IPL : Dugout News: King Kohli returns 

While Royal Challengers Bangalore needed to win the match to keep their playoff hope alive, what came soothingly to viewers' eyes was the return of King Kohli. Virat Kohli used to smash tons for fun not very long ago, irrespective of the conditions being played on or the venue. Virat rarely had a bad day with his bat. However, his struggle with the bat was evident in this IPL, and then there was he, roaring back to form when it mattered the most for the team in the most magnificent way. The former RCB skipper smashed 73 off 54, helping his team chase down a target quickly. He stitched a 115-run partnership with current skipper Faf du Plessis before the captain got dismissed by Rashid Khan. 

90 minutes of net practice before the match by Kohli

When asked about his lean patch in this season, Virat Kohli said that not being able to contribute to the team's cause bothered him the most during this phase. 

He said, "I can keep going. It was an important game. I was disappointed that I haven't done much for my team and that is what bothers me, not the stats. Today was a game where I was able to create an impact for the team. Puts us in a good position. There are expectations because of the performances that you have put in. You need to keep the perspective right. You can forget the process in order to live up to the expectations. I have worked really hard. I batted 90 minutes in the nets yesterday."

Praises pour in for the champion.

Virat Kohli accumulated just 309 runs in fourteen innings played at an average of 23.77. This is his second-lowest batting average in an entire IPL career. While the star player himself was agitated by his lean patch, fans and former cricketers waited for Kohli to roar with his bat. And when the day arrived, the cricket fraternity didn't stop themselves from hailing praises for the batter. 

RP Singh tweeted, "Finally, a very fine innings by #ViratKohli in #IPL and that too in a run chase! Well done champion and well done @RCBTweets . #GTvRCB #RPSwing."

"Cometh the hour, Cometh the Champion @imvkohli #TataIPL," wrote S. Badrinath

Amit Mishra's tweet reads, "KING FOR A REASON, KING OF ALL SEASONS. Really happy to see our champ Virat Kohli is back in his ferocious form. #RCBvGT #TATAIPL.”

Australian Journalist Chloe Amanda Bailey tweeted, "Some saying the King is back; others know he never really left #RCBvGT #ViratKohli."

While the 33-year-old looked like a pale shadow throughout the league, fans will be hoping that his form for yesterday's match will continue in the remaining IPL if they make through to playoffs and in international cricket. The former RCB skipper clearly said that he would walk away from the game the day he lost his drive for it. And we hope that his drive and passion for the game don't end any time soon.