Virat Kohli returned to form in emphatic fashion, scoring an unbeaten 105 to guide Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to a six-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Raipur, taking his side to the top of the IPL 2026 standings.
Chasing 193, Kohli anchored the innings with a composed 60-ball century, combining controlled strokeplay with sharp running between the wickets. His effort came after consecutive ducks in his previous two innings, underlining a strong comeback performance.
RCB Restrict KKR Despite Strong Start
KKR posted 192 for 4 after being put in, with Angkrish Raghuvanshi leading the scoring with 71 and Rinku Singh finishing unbeaten on 49. The pair, along with Cameron Green (32), helped KKR reach 153 for 3 after 16 overs, appearing set for a total beyond 200.
However, RCB’s seamers delivered an effective finish. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, and Rasikh Salam executed their plans well at the death, conceding just 39 runs in the final four overs to keep KKR under 200.
RCB fielded a pace-heavy attack featuring Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jacob Duffy, and Hazlewood, leaving out legspinner Suyash Sharma. Despite a rain delay before the start, conditions offered some assistance to seamers early on.
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Bhuvneshwar removed Finn Allen with a delivery that moved away, while Hazlewood dismissed Ajinkya Rahane with a short-of-length ball. KKR still managed 56 runs in the powerplay, capitalising on occasional loose deliveries.
Kohli Anchors Chase After Quick Start
RCB’s chase began positively, reaching 66 for 1 in the powerplay. Kohli led the charge early, including a six off Kartik Tyagi, finishing the first six overs on 30 from 14 balls.
While Devdutt Padikkal contributed 39, wickets at the other end did little to disrupt the chase. Kohli maintained control throughout, rotating strike effectively and finding boundaries at regular intervals.
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He also ran eight twos during his innings, maintaining momentum without taking undue risks. As the target neared, he accelerated with attacking strokes, including two sixes late in the innings.
Kohli reached his century with a single in the 19th over, before Jitesh Sharma sealed the win with five balls remaining.
KKR’s Bowling Effort Falls Short
KKR introduced debutant Saurabh Dubey with the new ball, and he made an immediate impact with a tight opening over, beating the bat multiple times. However, that early promise faded as RCB’s batters settled into the chase.
Kartik Tyagi was the standout bowler for KKR, finishing with 3 for 32, but the rest of the attack struggled to maintain pressure consistently.
Kohli’s innings ultimately proved decisive, as RCB completed the chase with control to secure a crucial win and move to the top of the table.
