K.G.F – Three best performances for RCB against GT

Call it lightning, call it thunder or call it wizardry,  Virat Kohli would come out of the shadows to resemble a cricketing epic that would reverberate for the ages to come drawing the perfect contrast to the Return of the King.

On a night where the Challengers had to win, RCB needed something very special to see them through. Even though the victory doesn’t guarantee the team a playoff berth just yet, it has kept RCB alive at least until Saturday when DC play the Mumbai Indians.

However, keeping the external factors aside, on a remarkable night like this, here are our top three finest performances that would witness the Challengers send the Titans spinning onto the canvas in their final group stage encounter.

1. Virat Kohli

It needed a while but it did come eventually as Kohli stitched together unrivaled dominion, punishing the Titans for everything loose that was hurled at him. The former RCB captain chose the do-or-die fixture to come out all guns blazing as he picked the Titans one by one, playing a handful of gorgeous-looking strokes with exemplary control and a leveled head. He got most of the damage done by the time his innings came to the end, propelling RCB to the doorsteps of a sumptuous win. He would finish the night on a 54-ball-73 that would also stay witness to a couple of stupendous maximums hinting at the return of the King.

2. Glenn Maxwell

If there was a synonym for the perfect all-rounder, it cannot be someone other than Glenn Maxwell who would personify brilliance in every single department on an unforgettable night for the Challengers. He started the evening with a thunderous grab at slip to remove Shubman Gill for cheap. He then followed it up with a spell of excellent 4 overs where he claimed the crucial scalp of Matthew Wade and keep things extremely tight for the opening three overs. If his heroics in the first half of the game was just the trailer of a blockbuster, his display in the second would definitely be the equivalent of an Oscar-winning silver screen masterclass. Getting fortunate on the very first ball where the bails would not fall off the stumps, he would grab the game by the scruff of its neck and unleash the signature Maxi frenzy, an unbeaten 40 from just 18 balls, smoking 5 fours and 2 sixes, sealed the fate of the tie in style.

3. Faf du Plessis

The former South African captain played an extremely crucial role in shaping the fate of the tie, despite his numbers being towered by Maxwell and Virat. He would play the perfect support to Virat’s early onslaught that would allow the latter to pace his innings perfectly and put up a partnership. He would also ensure that he ran enough between the wickets to keep the scoreboard ticking and would occasionally bring out the heavy artillery to condemn the loose balls to the ropes. He had the front seat to witness Virat’s pandemonium, putting together a resolute 38-ball-44 to seal the deal for the Challengers.