IPL 2019 | Player Ratings: Virat Kohli’s maiden IPL ton this season help RCB record their second victory

Virat Kohli (9/10): It is often said, fortune favours the brave and it doesn’t take any rocket science to figure out how brave Kohli was in this scintillating knock. Though it was one lucky innings from Kohli, as he got a few reprieves here and there, but eventually the scorecard just reflects the runs scored by a batsman and not how lucky he was. He ran like a horse and didn’t let the tempo down with occasional big strokes amidst his flawless stroke-plays. The ball wasn’t coming on nicely at the start, and Kohli was smart enough to gauge that. He stuck to is guns and bid enough time to get used to the surface. Although he struggled initially, his dominance in the death overs was an evidence to his supremacy.

Akshdeep Nath (3.5/10): RCB made a surprising move by elevating Akshadeep Nath up the order in the absence of Ab de Villiers and it  hardly paid off. The right-hander had a golden opportunity to cement his spot in the line-up with an impactful innings, but failed to do so. RCB’s batting weaknesses are more often camouflaged by the presence of few star cricketers, they need few domestic talents to rise up to the occasion and get runs on the board, Akshadeep Nath could have solved one tonight. 

Marcus Stoinis (6.5/10): When someone is batting with such finesse, the best seat in the house is the non-striker's end, and Stoinis was one lucky guy to have witnessed such assault from King Kohli at the other end. Stoinis soon joined the party and played some good strokes to help RCB get past the 200-run mark. With players like Ali and Stoinis finding form with the bat, RCB would be the team to beat henceforth. With the ball, Stoinis did more than what was expected out of him. His first three overs were economical while the final over had a mixed run. 

Dale Steyn (6.5/10): Had that catch been cupped by Marcus Stoinis on the very first ball off the innings, Dale Steyn would have got off to a fairy-tale start. Coming back to the IPL set-up after two seasons, Steyn reminded of his heydays with a mesmerising first over, where he eventually got rid of Lynn on the final delivery. A lion never forgets how to hunt, which was exactly the scenario with Steyn tonight. Steyn was having a dream comeback before Rana and Russell disrupted his figures in the final over.

Yuzvendra Chahal (4/10): The pitch changed its nature as the game progressed. A surface that looked difficult to bat on initially, became a batting paradise. Chahal has been a fighter throughout the season, but couldn’t do much with the ball tonight. It happens, a player can have a bad day and this mediocre performance can be overlooked.