Watch: Virat Kohli won a pulsating new-ball battle with Jofra Archer, surviving a sharp chance off the first ball to crash two fours and a six in the Englishman’s two overs in the Indian Premier League (IPL) today (April 2).
Archer’s Mumbai Indians debut had been hotly anticipated, over a year in the making. He fetched a high price at the 2022 IPL mega-auction despite already being ruled out of that year’s edition, having been the MVP of the 2021 event.
He almost struck with his very first ball, getting fingertips to a firm Kohli straight drive but was unable to cling on. From then, despite Archer topping 90mph, Kohli was a match for him. He faced 17 balls bowled by Archer in all, and hit them for 28 runs, including two fours and two sixes. According to statistician Bharath Seervi, it was the most runs hit by a single batter off Archer in a T20 game.
The highlight was the first six. Kohli picked an Archer slower ball and deposited it back down the ground with a glorious lofted drive. It was an emphatic shot, and, for the night at least, it set the tone for the contest.
Kohli ended up unbeaten on 82 as Royal Challengers Bangalore completed an eight-wicket win with time to spare.
