Virat Kohli was at his very best in Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) opening IPL 2023 fixture against Mumbai Indians (MI) at Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday (April 2).

Opening the innings, Kohli slammed 82 not out off 49 balls to script the team’s eight-wicket victory while chasing the target of 172. His innings was studded with 6 fours and 5 sixes. In particular, Virat was severe on Jofra Archer, smashing the MI pace spearhead for two fours and as many sixes.

The highlight of his knock was the two sixes he hit against Archer. While the first maximum came in the fourth over as Kohli came down the track and launched Jofra over long-off, the second one was a breathtaking pull over deep square leg in the 14th over.

After the game, RCB wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik said Virat Kohli wanted to make a statement by taking on Jofra Archer.

“That’s Virat Kohli for you. He sees the big dog in the opponent and realises that he wants to take him on. That’s the guy he wants to take on. He makes a statement, steps out, hits him over mid off. Not many people can say that they have stepped down and hit Jofra over the covers.

“It was just the way he dominated and it was a statement saying that ‘I am here to make a difference to this team’. It was a confidence booster for the way he played,” Karthik was quoted as saying on Jio TV.

Karthik also had words of praise for RCB skipper Faf du Plessis, who shared a 148-run opening stand with Kohli and returned with a fine knock of 73 in 43 balls.

“He has been brilliant, he led the team well, somebody who is very bold. It’s just the way he is batting, not only this year, last year as well for RCB, going on to do what he has done consistently,” Karthik remarked.

Royal Challengers Bangalore will take on Kolkata Knight Riders in their next clash at the Eden Gardens on Thursday (April 6).