Virat Kohli has overhauled an incredible record in T20 cricket, previously held by Chris Gayle during the IPL 2023 match between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the IS Bindra PCA stadium in Mohali on April 20, 2023.
Kohli scored his 89th half-century in the match as he returned as captain of the side as regular captain Faf du Plessis is dealing with an injury and wouldn’t be available to field for the RCB side and will be substituted by an impact player.
This came after Sam Curran, who is captaining the Punjab Kings in place of Shikhar Dhawan, who has a shoulder injury, won the toss and chose to bat first. During the toss, Curran also revealed that Liam Livingstone and Nathan Ellis were back in the side and Kagiso Rabada was being benched.
For RCB, Virat Kohli revealed that there were no changes to their playing XI, and Vyashak Vijaykumar will be the impact player to replace Faf du Plessis.
Virat Kohli Now Has The Second Most Half-Centuries In T20 Cricket
Meanwhile, Virat Kohli was the first wicket to fall for Royal Challengers Bangalore, as he scored 59 in 47 balls with 6 fours and 1 six to his name and was dismissed caught by Jitesh Sharma off the bowling of Harpreet Brar.
Virat Kohli. PC- IPLVirat Kohli. PC- IPL
However, this knock was enough for Virat Kohli to go past Chris Gayle as the batter with the second most half-centuries in T20 cricket. Before this game, both were tied for second place with 88 fifties to their names, but by hitting his 89th half-century he is just behind the record holder David Warner, who has 96 fifties to his name.
Here are the top three batters with the most half-centuries in T20 Cricket:
- David Warner- 96 fifties in 347 T20 matches
- Virat Kohli- 89 fifties in 366 T20 matches
- Chris Gayle- 88 fifties in 463 T20 matches