“Kohli hit one six, Gill hit eight,” IPL-winning coach points out ‘significant difference’ between two centuries
Though it was Kohli's record-breaking seventh IPL ton, it did not give many reasons to celebrate later.
Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill
Both Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill hammered their respective centuries during their teams’ last league matches of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Though it was Kohli’s record-breaking seventh IPL ton, it did not give many reasons to celebrate later because Gujarat Titans (GT) knocked out Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and simultaneously ended their playoffs hope.
Batting first, RCB posted 197/5 in 20 overs courtesy of only Kohli who smashed an unbeaten 101 off 61 balls with 13 fours and a six at strike rate of 165.57. Later, Gill’s unbeaten 104 off 52 with five boundaries and eight sixes at a strike rate of 200 inflicted a six-wicket defeat on the hosts at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
After the result, former Australia cricketer and Sunrisers Hyderabad coach Tom Moody pointed out the ‘significant difference’ between the centuries and though he hailed Kohli’s ton, it was Gill’s which impressed him the most.
“He is such a delight to watch. He is so composed at the crease. You look at his facial expression and his body language, he looks so much in control. He has got the game,” Moodi told Espncricinfo. “Eight sixes! That was the difference between the two hundreds. Both were brilliant hundreds. But Kohli only hit one six. Gill hit eight of them and was batting at a strike rate of 200. That’s a significant difference. And coming in a chase, hats off to him,” he added.
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Virat Kohli embraces Shubman Gill after a match-winning ton
RCB needed to win the match to qualify for the playoffs however, GT, who had already qualified and topped the table knocked the Faf du Plessis-led side out of IPL.
But an amazing moment was captured during the match. In that classic case of Guru and his pupil (as Gill has often expressed his admiration for Kohli) the former, despite getting disheartened by the team’s loss, approached Gill to congratulate him for his match-winning ton.
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