“I’ve Not Seen Sir Don Bat But….”: When Aakash Chopra Compared a Virat Kohli Knock to Sir Donald Bradman

Former Indian captain Virat Kohli was something else in Indian Premier League 2016. He broke all sorts of batting records during that season and it is still difficult to imagine if someone can surpass those numbers. Kohli played one fine knock against Punjab Kings (then Kings XI Punjab) and commentator Aakash Chopra compared it with Sir Donald Bradman.

After a terrible start to the campaign, RCB were on a winning spree and they needed to win against Punjab at any cost. It was a rainy day in Bengaluru and the match got reduced to 15 overs per side. Kohli came to open the innings with batter Chris Gayle and both of them just smoked the Punjab bowlers.

Kohli had already scored three centuries in the tournament before that match but none expected him to score one more in a shortened game. Moreover, he got injured in the last match and had a spit-webbing. It was a magical display by ‘King Kohli’ and he completed his century in just 47 balls. After achieving the milestone, he made a gesture about his injury reminding everyone that nothing can stop him.

When Aakash Chopra Compared a Virat Kohli Knock to Sir Donald Bradman

Legendary Australian batter Sir Donald Bradman is considered to be one of the greatest to ever play the game. Bradman played his last Test match in 1948. Most of the fans have not watched him bat live for obvious reasons. Chopra that’s why called Virat’s knock as Bradman’s esque one.

Even Kohli said in the post-match presentation that he never imagined scoring a century in a 15-over match. He insisted that the way Gayle got going from the other end motivated him as well. Gayle also had a brilliant game, where he smashed 73 (32) with the help of four boundaries and eight sixes.

Virat Kohli revealed his most fun knock to Kevin Pietersen

Kohli was once talking to former England batter Kevin Pietersen on an Instagram live session. He then recalled this innings against Punjab. Kohli had said that it was one of those days where everything was coming of the middle of the bat. He had absolutely no fear of getting out in that particular inning.

“It was against Kings XI in the IPL,” Kohli had said to Pietersen.

“That was one of the days where I felt like, ‘Jeez, I’m just connecting everything’, and I just felt like I couldn’t get out. And I’ve never felt like that before. Just to be able to hit and not have that fear of getting out. It was amazing. So that has been my most fun innings.”

RCB lost the final of IPL 2016 against Sunrisers Hyderabad, but he had a record season personally. He scored 973 runs at an average of 81.08 with the help of four centuries and seven half-centuries. He had an astonishing strike-rate of 152.03 as well.