Virat Kohli was seen completely absorbed in Urvil Patel’s stunning batting display as Chennai Super Kings took on Lucknow Super Giants on Sunday. A clip from broadcaster Star Sports captured the RCB star watching the action from the dugout ahead of Bengaluru’s match against Mumbai Indians in Raipur, and the timing of the footage instantly went viral.
The moment gained extra significance because Urvil was in the middle of one of the most destructive innings in IPL history. The CSK batter matched Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 2023 record for the fastest fifty in the tournament, reaching the milestone in just 13 balls. Urvil turned the game on its head during Chennai’s chase of 204 at Chepauk, quickly becoming the talk of the cricketing world.
After Sanju Samson fell for a quick 28, Urvil walked in and shifted the momentum within minutes. He smashed Avesh Khan for three consecutive sixes, then tore into Digvesh Singh Rathi with another over packed with boundaries and towering maximums. By the end of the powerplay, LSG were already under severe pressure.
Urvil became the first batter in IPL history to hit six sixes within the first eight balls of an innings. He raced to 41 not out off just eight deliveries, setting a new record for the highest score after the first eight balls of an IPL innings. The right-hander eventually blasted 65 off only 23 balls, smashing eight sixes and two fours before falling to Shahbaz Ahmed.
One of the most emotional moments of the evening came right after Urvil brought up his fifty. The youngster pulled out a note from his pocket that read: “This is for you, Papa,” dedicating the milestone to his father.
Despite Urvil’s heroics, Chennai still had work to do after a late fightback from LSG. Ruturaj Gaikwad anchored the innings with 42, and Shivam Dube sealed the match in style with two sixes in the final over, helping CSK secure a five-wicket win with four balls to spare.
Earlier, LSG had posted 203/8, largely thanks to Josh Inglis’s sensational 85 off 33 balls, which included the fastest IPL fifty ever recorded at Chepauk. However, the visitors lost momentum in the middle overs as Jamie Overton picked up three wickets for Chennai.
