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Will Jacks unleashed a batting masterclass against Gujarat Titans (GT) bowlers, smashing a blistering 41 balls hundred in a remarkable unbeaten partnership worth 166 runs with the legendary Virat Kohli. Their stellar performance guided Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to a resounding nine-wicket victory in Ahmedabad on Sunday (April 28), keeping their hopes alive in the race for the playoffs in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024.
Virat Kohli’s sensational partnership with Will Jacks
Jacks’ maiden IPL century, coupled with Kohli’s sensational unbeaten knock of 70 runs, scripted the triumph for RCB. Kohli, silencing his critics, reached his fifty milestone off just 32 deliveries, setting the tone for RCB’s chase of the challenging target of 200 runs. Faf du Plessis provided a solid start, and after his dismissal, Kohli took charge, maintaining an aggressive approach as RCB scored 63 runs in the powerplay.
Jacks’ batting masterclass
Although Jacks initially struggled against spin, Kohli ensured a steady scoring rate, maintaining pressure on the opposition with runs flowing at nearly 10 runs per over. By the halfway mark, RCB reached 98/1, with Jacks gradually finding his rhythm. The England star unleashed his fury against Mohit Sharma in the 15th over, followed by an onslaught against Rashid Khan, smashing sixes effortlessly and leaving GT bewildered.
Also WATCH: Rajat Patidar’s incredible effort to save a certain boundary during GT vs RCB clash | IPL 2024
Shahrukh Khan and Sai Sudharsan’s impact
Jacks’ explosive batting spree saw him accumulate 83 runs off his last 24 balls, propelling RCB to victory with four overs to spare. Earlier in the match, Shahrukh Khan capitalized on his promotion in the batting order, registering his first IPL fifty, while Sai Sudharsan‘s unbeaten 84 off 49 deliveries propelled GT to a formidable total of 200/3. Their partnership of 86 runs off 45 balls injected momentum into the GT’s innings after a slow start.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
The chase master at his best!! King for a reason!
— Robin Aiyuda Uthappa (@robbieuthappa) April 28, 2024
Virat Kohli is a true Chase master!
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) April 28, 2024
What an incredible chase by @RCBTweets what an innings by Will Jacks 100 of 41 wow 😮👏🏽🙌🏽#RCBvsGT#IPL24
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) April 28, 2024
Will Jacks has always been the answer. Onwards and upwards
— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) April 28, 2024
I suspect we are witnessing a tectonic change in T20 cricket led by a group of relatively unheralded but completely uninhibited strokeplayers. The intensity of this change has caught a lot of people off-guard. It is a learning curve for all of us in our understanding of the…
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 28, 2024
Seen Virat Kohli get excited & get impressed by many of his batting partners over the years but rarely seen him look on in such awe of a batting partner. It was of course an awe-inspiring knock from Will Jacks. Special #IPL2024 #GTvRCB pic.twitter.com/GMROHmUFiz
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) April 28, 2024
RCB thrashes GT in Ahmedabad 🔥#GTvRCB #ipl2024
Scorecard: https://t.co/YRCpBzzmwB #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/icJKBB31Rw— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) April 28, 2024
Kohli just took a dig at all those T20 hipsters and Excel sheet merchants who used to question his game. 💉🔥
— Aditya Saha (@Adityakrsaha) April 28, 2024
Will Jacks madness was there because how Kohli operated the chase when Jacks looked clueless at start being on 16(16). Man carried the chase for a certain phase there, the chase master.
— arfan (@Im__Arfan) April 28, 2024
Here is your 16th over update. 😮💨
We managed to keep the CRR above the RRR for the whole innings and to topped it off with a Willy J blinder 🙇♂️#PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB #IPL2024 #GTvRCB pic.twitter.com/egajWIOc5c
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) April 28, 2024
Not our day… 💔#TATAIPL2024 | #GTvRCB pic.twitter.com/xkIpYSKpyG
— Gujarat Titans (@gujarat_titans) April 28, 2024