Virat Kohli has nudged his way back to the top of the run-scorers’ list, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru opener collecting the Orange Cap thanks to a brisk 49 from 34 balls in Wednesday night’s win over Lucknow Super Giants at the Chinnaswamy.
RCB chased 147 with five balls in hand; Kohli’s contribution, made as an Impact Substitute rather than part of the starting XI, moved him to 228 runs from five innings, four clear of Sunrisers Hyderabad keeper-batter Heinrich Klaasen. “The knee’s been a bit grumpy,” Kohli told the host broadcaster. “Sitting out the first half felt odd, but it was the right call.”
It was the first occasion in 17 IPL seasons that RCB had deployed Kohli in the substitute role. The switch followed Sunday’s game in Mumbai, where the 37-year-old left the field early with what he later described as “soreness round the joint”. RCB captain Rajat Patidar, who chipped in with a 13-ball 27 against LSG, said the medical team was “simply being sensible”.
Orange Cap – top five after Match 23
1. Virat Kohli (RCB) 228
2. Heinrich Klaasen (SRH) 224
3. Rajat Patidar (RCB) 213
4. Ishan Kishan (MI) 211
5. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (KKR) 207
On the bowling side the Purple Cap table remains unchanged. Chennai Super Kings seamer Anshul Kamboj and Gujarat Titans quick Prasidh Krishna stay joint-leaders with ten wickets apiece. Royals wrist-spinner Ravi Bishnoi and LSG’s lively left-armer Prince Yadav are one back on nine. “Early doors, but you like to have your name up there,” Krishna said earlier in the week.
Purple Cap – leading quartet
=1. Anshul Kamboj (CSK) 10
=1. Prasidh Krishna (GT) 10
3. Ravi Bishnoi (RR) 9
4. Prince Yadav (LSG) 9
Krunal Pandya (LSG) is the only finger-spinner in the top ten, his seven wickets coming at a neat 6.9 an over. The numbers hint at a trend: wrist-spin and high pace continue to prosper, while orthodox spin is earning its keep through economy rather than sheer strike power.
A few other markers at the season’s first quarter:
• Best strike rate (min 100 runs): Klaasen 206.
• Most sixes: Kohli 17, Klaasen 16.
• Best economy (min 10 overs): Kamboj 6.3.
There is still plenty of road left, yet the early tables confirm what most suspected: batting depth is king, but timely breakthroughs hold equal weight. Kohli’s latest adjustment – easing his workload until required – may become a template for other senior players managing niggles. As analyst Lisa Sthalekar put it on commentary, “The Impact rule was meant for tactical flexibility; tonight it probably added another season to a superstar’s career.”
