IPL 2023: With Test cricket coming up, I have to stay true to my technique – Virat Kohli after match-winning knock against SRH

Royal Challengers Bangalore talisman Virat Kohli was delighted after playing a match-winning knock of 100 runs off just 63 balls in a must-win encounter against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad on Thursday.

Kohli said he doesn’t pay much importance to his numbers and it is about delivering for the team in as many matches as possible. The linchpin was able to get off the blocks in a jiffy as he scored a boundary off Bhuvneshwar Kumar on the first ball he faced.

Kohli and Faf added 64 runs in the Powerplay overs to give a perfect start to their team in the run-chase of 187 runs against SRH. The former RCB skipper was the aggressor as he continued to play his shots throughout the innings and scored 12 fours and four sixes in his blistering knock. This was Kohli’s sixth IPL century as he batted at the top of his game and added a fine opening alliance of 172 runs with Faf du Plessis to take his team close to the target.

The linchpin is known to play risk-free shots in T20 cricket and said he wants to stay true to his technique to get the best out of himself. Kohli said he is not bothered about what people have to say from the outside as he always wants to give his best to the team.

“The way I’m looked at as an IPL player is like ‘yeah, he’s fine, has a few impact knocks’. It’s my sixth IPL hundred. Sometimes I don’t give myself enough credit because I put myself under so much stress already. I don’t care what anyone says on the outside. That’s their opinion,” Kohli said after RCB’s eight-wicket win.

The 34-year-old from Delhi added they play all around the year and he looks to back his own strengths rather than play fancy shots, which is not his forte.

“When you’re in that situation yourself, you know how to win games of cricket. I’ve done that over a long period of time. It’s not like when I play I don’t win games for my team,” Kohli said. “It’s playing the situation that I take pride in. I’ve never been a guy who plays so many fancy shots. I was having a chat with Aiden [Markram] as well – we’ve to play 12 months of the year.

“For me, it’s not about playing fancy shots and throwing my wicket away. We’ve got Test cricket (coming up) after the IPL, I have to stay true to my technique. When I can make an impact in an important game, it gives me confidence, it gives the team confidence.”

Royal Challengers Bangalore will play their last league stage match against defending champions Gujarat Titans at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore on Sunday.