BENGALURU, India — Virat Kohli smashed 81 after he was dropped off the first ball and Royal Challengers Bengaluru ran down Gujarat Titans by five wickets in the Indian Premier League on Friday.Thanks to Kohli’s 44-ball knock and Devdutt Padikkal’s 55 in a whirlwind second-wicket stand of 115 runs off 59 balls, Bengaluru comfortably reached 206-5 in 18.5 overs.Gujarat made 205-3 on the back of opener Sai Sudharsan’s even 100 off 58 balls, his third IPL century.Sudharsan, in his 47th IPL game, became the quickest player to 2,000 IPL runs, eclipsing Chris Gayle’s record of 48 matches.Kohli was dropped by Washington Sundar at mid-wicket in Mohammed Siraj’s first over and went on to crash eight boundaries and four sixes.Padikkal and Kohli punished Gujarat’s two premium bowlers Kagiso Rabada (0-45) and Rashid Khan (2-49). Kohli welcomed Rashid with a straight six off the second delivery and Padikkal smashed Rabada for a six off the first ball he faced.Padikkal was the aggressor of the two batters and completed his half-century from 20 balls with six sixes and two fours while Kohli raised his third fifty of the season from 30 balls.Bengaluru was in sight of a big finish in front of its home fans chanting “R-C-B” before they lost four wickets in four overs. Rashid deceived Padikkal wit …
