"When Virat Kohli scores 50 in a run chase…" - Harsha Bhogle's sensational take after LSG vs RCB match

Veteran commentator Harsha Bhogle praised Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batter Virat Kohli following their final league match of IPL 2025 against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Bhogle said that he expected Phil Salt to lead the chase but Kohli took charge early and set the tone with his performance.

Virat Kohli was instrumental in RCB’s victory against LSG at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on Tuesday, May 27. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru secured a convincing six-wicket win in their final league stage match. They finished in the top two of the IPL 2025 points table, with 19 points from 14 games.

Scoring 600 Runs in a Tournament is a Huge Achievement - Harsha Bhogle

Speaking to Cricbuzz, Harsha Bhogle said that Kohli was precise and confident in his shot-making, especially with his pull shots off bowler Willow Rourke. He also noted that Kohli’s dismissal was against the flow of the game.

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“In all fairness, scoring 600 runs in a tournament is a huge achievement for any player. When we were discussing how RCB might chase this total, everyone mentioned Salt as a key player. But it was Virat Kohli who really took charge," Bhogle said.

The way he played those boundaries - the pull shots off Willow Rourke. He was swiveling and placing the ball exactly where he wanted. It was an innings by a man completely in control. His dismissal felt almost against the flow of the game, I thought he was going to take them all the way home today," he added.

When Virat Kohli Scores 50 in a Run Chase, RCB Never Lose - Harsha Bhogle

Harsha Bhogle added that the partnership between Virat Kohli and Phil Salt helped keep the required run rate under control. He added that without such a start, middle-order batters like Jitesh Sharma would have faced a tough challenge.

“When Virat Kohli scores 50 in a run chase, RCB never loses. That’s how legends are made. He scored 50 today and guided them to victory. When Virat Kohli and Phil Salt set the foundation, it keeps the required run rate manageable," Bhogle opined.

"If they don’t, then when players like Jitesh come in, the asking rate can soar to 15 or more, which makes chasing much tougher. Thanks to their opening partnership, the required run rate stayed below 12 an over.”

Virat Kohli in Fifth Place Among Leading Run-Getters in IPL 2025

Kohli scored 54 off 30 balls against Lucknow Super Giants. This was his eighth half-century of the season. Overall, he has scored 602 runs in 13 innings at an average of 60.20 and a strike rate of 147.27—his third consecutive season crossing the 600-run mark.

During the run chase against LSG, RCB found themselves at 123 for 4 following Kohli's dismissal. Stand-in captain Jitesh Sharma then scored an unbeaten 85 off just 33 balls. He and Mayank Agarwal guided the team to their highest-ever successful chase in IPL history.

RCB chased a 228-run target in just 18.4 overs with six wickets in hand. With this win, RCB secured a top-two finish in the league standings and will now face Punjab Kings in Qualifier 1 on May 29 in Mullanpur.

Also read: "Jitesh Sharma was OUT"- ICC International Panel Umpire steps in on Digvesh Rathi's run-out attempt