After a breathtaking 104 from Klaasen that lit up Uppal Stadium, Kohli and Faf du Plessis donned their superhero capes as the duo poked fun at the 187 chase.
Firing the highest partnership of the season, Kohli and du Plessis added 172 runs for the opening wicket as Bangalore cruised to a seventh win and sneaked into the top four, propelling the Mumbai Indians into fifth.
In hitting his sixth century and first since 2019, virtuosic Kohli also equaled Chris Gayle’s record of hitting over hundreds in the biggest cricket league in the world.
After Kohli and du Plessis’ mammoth fourth-century-plus partnership, Glenn Maxwell and Michael Bracewell ended the chase with 4 balls to spare.
Klaasen showed her hitting ability big, hitting six sixes and eight fours during her scintillating 104-run 51-ball run to take SRH to 186 for five from 28 for 2 in the fifth over.
But Kohli (100) had other plans as he and du Plessis (71) helped RCB stalk the bullseye with their magnificent ball strokes to a record-breaking standoff.
RCB are now in fourth place in the table due to their best run net rate, although they are tied with Mumbai on 14 points. They will, however, have to win their next game to stay in the mix as Chennai Super Kings and Lucknow Super Giants are within 15 points with one game to go.
Kohli was in full class as he hit top fours and 12 fours in his 63-ball stroke, while du Plessis hit seven fours and two sixes in his 47-ball stroke as the pair gave a tracking masterclass.
Often criticized for slowing down after powerplays, Kohli settled the debate with some overtime shots as he continued to manage bounds in the middle overs to never lose his pace.
Needing a win to stay in play-off contention, Kohli and du Plessis gave RCB a running start to their chase. The in-form opening duo bowled some wonderful strokes, amassing 64 in their first six overs.
Kohli started proceedings with two strokes to the ropes from Bhuvneshwar Kumar, before hitting spinner Abhishek Sharma for two further boundaries.
The skipper then joined the party, punishing Kartik Tyagi for short bowling with three fours even though he was dropped by Glenn Phillips in the middle of the boundary line.
Kohli then bowled exquisite shot into extra deep cover for four more as 18 runs came off the fourth over.
Du Plessis then deposited Bhuvneshwar off deep square leg and followed it up with four more with RCB amassing 14 runs from the over.
Knowing full well that net speed could come into play to decide the top four, Kohli and du Plessis kept their foot on the pedal with former rookie Nitish Reddy above the half.
Mayank Dagar made an amazing boundary line catch but du Plessis survived after the umpire called it a no-ball as Nitish was at fault for throwing a second bouncer.
After two quiet overs, du Plessis bowled Abhishek for a six and a four, before Bhuvneshwar came to the line, conceding four boundaries as the 15th over yielded 18 runs.
Kohli completed his hundred with another six off Bhuvneshwar before pocketing the next ball. Du Plessis followed suit with T Natarajan’s slower delivery doing the trick.
Glenn Maxwell and Michael Bracewell then completed the work.
Earlier, Klaasen struck up a 76-run partnership with Aiden Markram (18) before adding a further 74 from 36 balls with Harry Brook (27 not out) to take SRH to a competitive total.
Already out of the playoffs, SRH once again got off to a bad start with Rahul Tripathi (15) and Abhishek Sharma (11) wasting good starts.
It was spinner Michael Bracewell who struck out twice, removing both openers off his first three balls. While Abhishek punched Lomror straight into cover, Tripathi found the fine leg defender off his paddle sweep.
Klaasen hit three fours off Shahbaz Ahmed to put the Sunrisers up 49 for 2 in the powerplay.
Klassen pulled back and shot whenever the ball was short as Bracewell and Harshal Patel were sent over the ropes, while Karn Sharma was out for a six from 74 metres.
Karn Sharma was then punished for bowling with Klaasen depositing him in the stands. The South African completed his fifty in 24 balls.
While Klaasen was in full swing, Markram managed just 18 runs-a-ball before his stump was blocked by Shahbaz as he went for a reverse hit.
Brook then collected a four and six off Karn Sharma, who dropped 21 runs, with Klaasen also relieving him at cover.
Du Plessis’ decision to have Shahbaz bowl the 17th over backfired when Klaasen hit the first two balls over the bowler’s head, while Brook bowled a fine.
Parnell nailed the yorkers to allow just seven runs in the next over but Klaasen then sacked Harshal over his head to bring up his hundred. One last ball was sent off as he looked for another big shot.
(With inputs from PTI)
Clock IPL: Kohli, du Plessis show keeps RCB in play-off chase
