‘Slowest century in IPL history’: Pakistan cricketers mock Virat Kohli

Being Virat Kohli is difficult at the moment. The current Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 ‘Red Cap’ holder is breaking records with the bat but is facing criticism as his team Royal Challengers Bangalore are unable to register a victory. Kohli’s unbeaten knock of 113 on Saturday was his best in the T20 league but he found himself in the headlines for the wrong reasons. As fans and pundits questioned Kohli’s strike rate and intention behind his 113-run knock, Pakistan cricketer Junaid Khan cruelly mocked the Indian star for scoring the “slowest century in IPL history”.

Against Rajasthan, Virat hit 4 sixes and 12 boundaries in an unbeaten 113 off 72 balls. This is his joint-best score in the T20 league, having achieved the same feat back in 2016 against Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings).

However, it was also the slowest in IPL history, rivaling Manish Pandey’s 67 in 2009.

Slowest hundreds in IPL history:

1. Virat Kohli: 67 against Rajasthan Royals in 2024

2. Manish Pandey: Scored 67 goals against Deccan Chargers in 2009

3. Sachin Tendulkar: 66 against Kerala Kochi Tuskers in 2011

4. David Warner: 66 balls vs KKR, 2010

5. Jos Buttler – 66 balls vs MI, 2022

6. Kevin Pietersen – 64 balls against Deccan Chargers, 2012

Junaid wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “Congratulations to Virat Kohli for achieving the slowest 100 in IPL history”.

Congratulations to Virat kholi for achieving the slowest score in IPL history#RRvRCB #IPL2024

— Junaid Khan (@JunaidkhanREAL) April 6, 2024

Kohli admitted during the break that he found it difficult to score runs on the pitch. Although it looks like a flat surface from the outside, the RCB star said that it is actually not one.

“The wicket looks very different from the outside. It feels flat but the ball stays on the pitch and that’s when you realize the change of pace. One of us (Virat or Faf ) had to bat till the end. I felt the total was effective on this pitch. I didn’t have any premeditation. I knew I couldn’t overcome the aggression, it was just that I had to keep the bowlers guessing. It’s just experience and mature playing conditions.

“Even with the dew, the surface was rough and dry and it wasn’t easy for the batsmen. Against Ashwin, I couldn’t bat from under the ball. Couldn’t get towards mid-wicket so had to aim straight at the ground,” he said at said during halftime.