![Fans react to Kohli's slow fifty vs MI [Source: IPL/X.com]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1776011458176_TRonKohli.jpg?type=hq)
Fans react to Kohli's slow fifty vs MI [Source: IPL/X.com]
Sunday night at the Wankhede Stadium saw some electrifying batting from the Royal Challengers Bengaluru against the Mumbai Indians, as they were put in to bat first by Hardik Pandya.
Starting with a fiery 78 off 36 from Phil Salt, stitching a 120-run opening stand with Virat Kohli, the momentum was carried forward by captain Rajat Patidar and Tim David. At one point, with 44* (11), Patidar was on the verge of scoring the joint-fastest T20 fifty before slowing down a bit and ending with 53 off 20 with four fours and five sixes.
In the middle of the carnage from Salt and Patidar, the former RCB skipper, Virat Kohli, found himself struggling to get going, and he was soon called out by both fans and critics over his slow fifty on the night.
Fans turn on Virat Kohli for a slow fifty vs MI
In the midst of the fireworks from Salt and Patidar, who promoted himself to 3, Kohli was stranded at the end. In the 120-run opening partnership, Kohli contributed 38 runs, but took 29 balls for it. It was followed by a 65-run partnership with Patidar, where he could only score 12 off 9 before eventually getting dismissed.
Before he failed to convert a full toss from Hardi Pandya for a six, handing a catch to Suryakumar Yadav on long on, he had scored five fours and a six, while also losing the DRS to wide calls. Throughout the knock, he couldn’t connect big sixes, and the shots he connected could only find the fielders.
At the time of his dismissal at the 14.4 over mark, RCB was 185/2 in 14.4 overs. At one point, around the 12th over, when he was 38*(29), the camera also panned out towards the RCB dugout, where Tim David was padded up, and the commentators pointed out that Kohli could even be retired out to get David in.
As Kohli reached a 37-ball fifty, people hopped onto it and called him out for the knock, some even terming him selfish for the approach, while more people wanted him retired out.
Also Read: Watch - Virat Kohli Slams Helmet In Anger; Fears BCCI Fine For Aggressive Act vs MI
RCB dominate MI at Wankhede
After being asked to bat first, it was important for the defending champions to post a total north of 225 at the venue, considering the flat surface and small boundaries. In MI’s only win this season, they had chased down 221 runs in 19.1 overs. Additionally, England also almost chased down a 254-run target in the T20 World Cup semi-final.
Considering all factors, all RCB batters stepped up for the task despite Kohli’s struggles. Tim David added another unbeaten 34 off 16 with three sixes and two fours to take the score to 240/4. This David knock against his old team came at the back of his unbeaten 70 off 25 against CSK earlier in the season.
Also Read: Liam Livingstone In or Out? SRH Predicted Playing XI vs RR, IPL 2026, Match 21
Star-studded MI eyes record chase at Wankhede.
Earlier in the season, the 221-run successful chase at the Wankhede by MI was their highest score chased in the second innings at home. The game saw Ryan Rickleton score 81 (43), and Rohit Sharma got 78 off 38 in his vintage style, with six sixes and six fours.
MI will now need to replicate that performance if they want to take down the defending champions and post a record run chase at their home turf.
In IPL 2025, RCB defeated MI for the first time at Wankhede since 2015, and if Jacob Duffy continues with his supreme new-ball form, taking early wickets, the match could be seen ending similarly again.
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