Virat Kohli hits joint-slowest IPL century and bluntly justifies it with "couldn't get over-aggressive" remark

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) star batsman Virat Kohli bluntly defended his slow century in the 19th match of the Indian Premier League 2024 (IPL 2024) against Sanju Samson-led Rajasthan Royals (RR) on Saturday, April 6, at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur.

RCB were invited to bat first in the match and Virat Kohli once again stood tall with the bat. He was the lone warrior for his team in the innings and slammed a slow but important hundred to steer his team to a good total of 183/3.

Kohli completed his half-century off 39 balls and then reached the century milestone off 67 balls. He remained unbeaten throughout the innings and finished up with a score of 113 runs in 72 balls. He scored runs at a strike rate of 156.94 and his knock was studded with 12 fours and 4 sixes.

The ton hit by Kohli was the joint slowest in IPL history and overall slowest in India. Notably, Manish Pandey had also hit a 67-ball hundred in 2009 in Centurion.

Slowest IPL hundreds (by balls taken):

67 - Manish Pandey (RCB) vs Deccan Chargers, Centurion, 2009

67 - Virat Kohli (RCB) vs RR, Jaipur, 2024

66 - Sachin Tendulkar (MI) vs KTK, Mumbai WS, 2011

66 - David Warner (DC) vs KKR, Delhi, 2010

66 - Jos Buttler (RR) vs MI, Mumbai DYP, 2022

The wicket looks quite different from the outside - Virat Kohli

Speaking during the mid-innings break, Virat Kohli bluntly justified his slow knock, saying that the track wasn't easy to bat on and the ball was holding up on the pitch. He said:

"The wicket looks quite different from the outside. It feels like it's flat, but the ball is holding up in the pitch, that's when you realise the pace changes."

Virat Kohli further said that he had decided with his opening partner Faf du Plessis that one of them had to bat till the very end and after the dismissal of the RCB skipper, he had to bat deep. Virat Kohli said:

"One of us (Virat or Faf) had to bat till the end. I feel this total is effective on this pitch. I am not coming in with any premeditation. I knew I couldn't get over aggressive, just that I had to keep the bowlers guessing. It's just experience and maturity of playing the conditions."

Virat Kohli added that chasing the total would not be easy on the surface even if the dew comes into play. Virat Kohli said:

"Even if there's dew, the surface is rough and dry, won't be easy for the batters. I couldn't get under the ball against Ashwin. Couldn't slog towards mid-wicket, so had to target straight down the ground."

With his century, Kohli also extended his record for the most tons in the Indian Premier League (IPL) history. He has 8 centuries and is followed by Chris Gayle on the list who has 6.

Most hundreds in the IPL

8 - Virat Kohli

6 - Chris Gayle

5 - Jos Buttler

4 - KL Rahul

4 - David Warner

4 - Shane Watson