In a mesmerizing IPL 2024 showdown in Ahmedabad the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) allrounder Will Jacks delivered a scintillating century against the Gujarat Titans (GT). His incredible feat took only 41 balls leaving the seasoned batsman Virat Kohli astounded by the sublime hitting prowess on full display.
Jack’s innings got off to a slow start, with just 17 runs scored in his first 17 balls. However, he told how Kohli encouraged him to go on the GT bowlers, which enabled the England batter start the mayhem by knocking down Mohit Sharma.
Will Jacks told ESPNCricinfo about his partnership with Virat Kohli:
“Once I got my fifty, Virat was like, ‘I don’t want to face any balls – keep going.’ When Mohit Sharma came on [in the 15th over], that was my match-up. I was going to take him down there, because I’d faced him for three or four balls before and I’d got a good eye of him. I knew that was my time, and after that there was no reason to stop.”
Will Jacks
Will Jacks also said that he didn’t know he could reach his century until RCB needed only seven runs to win and he needed twelve to reach his goal. He hammered Rashid Khan for back-to-back sixes, and Virat Kohli was ecstatic and astonished to see his teammate get his first IPL century.
Will Jacks on Virat Kohli’s reaction to his hundred
A photo of Virat Kohli admiring Will Jacks’ monster six went viral on social media, and the England all-rounder was thankful. He believed that scoring his first IPL hundred alongside such a cricket great was the icing on the cake.
On this, Jacks stated:
“I’ve always known I’ve been good enough, but to really dominate like that just lets everyone else know what I can do. But to do it with Virat, and have him hyping me up like that? It’s special.”
Will Jacks
Will Jacks acknowledged that the century turned him into an overnight star, not just among RCB supporters but also in the IPL. He remained on the bench for the first five games, which made his hundred even more memorable since he had an immediate impact.