Paddikal's 101 and Kohli's 72 crush Rajasthan by 10 wickets

MUMBAI, India (AP) — Propelled by a maiden century from Devdutt Paddikal beside Virat Kohli, Royal Challengers Bangalore blew away Rajasthan Royals by 10 wickets in the Indian Premier League on Thursday.

Paddikal, the 20-year-old left-hander, scored 101 not out and Kohli, his captain, 72 not out for Bangalore to reach 181 without loss in the 17th over in reply to Rajasthan’s 177-9.

“I had the best seat in the house,” Kohli said.

Bangalore remained the only team unbeaten after four rounds, while Rajasthan was last in the eight-team league.

Rajasthan's target was imposing but Paddikal and Kohli cruised, sparing nobody.

“The conversation was very clear, we both realized when we were going good,” Paddikal said. “There were times when he was going better, times when I was going better. We just wanted to rotate the strike.”

Kohli hit legspinner Shreyas Gopal over mid on in the first over, and Paddikal hit Gopal to the boundary twice past short fine leg in the third.

Fast bowler Chris Morris conceded three boundaries in his first over, the fourth.

Paddikal drove fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman over long off, then medium-pacer Chetan Sakariya over long on.

He brought up his 50 in 27 deliveries with a boundary through extra cover in the eighth. In the ninth, he swatted legspinner Rahul Tewatia for consecutive sixes.

The century partnership came up in the 10th when Paddikal swiveled on his back foot and pulled Mustafizur over deep square leg.

While Paddikal stalled in the 80s, Kohli rushed from the 20s to his 50, getting there after slapping Morris over mid off. Kohli took 34 balls.

Paddikal achieved the second hundred of this IPL by hitting Mustafizur over deep square leg.

The end came moments later on five wides.

Paddikal's 102 came from 52 balls, and included 11 boundaries and six sixes.

“Flawless innings,” Kohli said.

His 72 off 47 had six boundaries and three sixes. He passed 6,000 runs in the IPL.

Rajasthan started the match 43-4, and Shivam Dube began the recovery with the middle order. Dube scored 46 off 32 until he was out to a good diving catch by Glenn Maxwell.

Riyan Pirag added 25 off 16, and Tewatia 40 off 23 after trying for a third six at the end of the 19th over. He was medium-pacer Mohammed Siraj’s third wicket. Medium-pacer Harshal Patel also took three.

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