Virat Kohli has 101 catches in 228 games, trailing only all-rounder Kieron Pollard (103 catches) and batsman Suresh Raina (109 catches in 204 matches).
On Sunday, Star India and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) fielder Rahul Dravid became the first player from his franchise and the third player overall to accomplish 100 catches in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as a fielder. This achievement was completed during his team’s IPL 2023 match against Rajasthan Royals (RR) at M Chinaswammy Stadium in Bengaluru.
Despite being dismissed for a golden duck in the match, Virat made up for it with his explosive presence on the field. He took two catches to eliminate youthful top-order hitters Yashasvi Jaiswal and Devdutt Padikkal, who threatened to derail RCB’s 190-run chase. These wickets were crucial to his team’s victory.
Virat now has 101 catches in 228 games, trailing only all-rounder Kieron Pollard (103 catches) and batsman Suresh Raina (109 catches in 204 matches).
Virat has also been in excellent form with the bat in IPL 2023, scoring 279 runs in seven matches at an average of 46.50. So far in the tournament, he has four half-centuries, with the top score of 82*. His strike rate is 141.62 percent.
RCB scored 189/9 in 20 overs after being put to bat first by RR. After being reduced to 12/2 after losing stand-in skipper Virat Kohli for a golden duck, Faf du Plessis (62 off 39 balls with eight fours and two sixes) and Glenn Maxwell (77 off 44 balls with six fours and four sixes) put on a 127-run third-wicket stand.
This stand was crucial in helping RCB post a competitive total. Trent Boult (2/41) was RR’s bowling selection. In his four overs, Sandeep Sharma also took 2/49. Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravichandran Ashwin each took a wicket.
RR lost their key hitter Jos Buttler for a duck in the chase of 190. However, a 98-run second-wicket stand between Yashasvi Jaiswal (47 off 37 balls with five fours and two sixes) and Devdutt Padikkal (52 off 34 balls with seven fours and a six) propelled RR back into the game.
Later contributions came from skipper Sanju Samson (22 off 15 balls, two fours and a six) and Dhruv Jurel (34* off 16 balls, two fours, and two sixes), but RCB’s superb death bowling kept them seven runs short of victory.
