Virat Kohli roared back to form with a sensational unbeaten century as Royal Challengers Bengaluru defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by six wickets in a rain-delayed IPL 2026 clash in Raipur on Tuesday.
After suffering back-to-back ducks in his previous two innings, Kohli responded in style with an unbeaten 105, guiding RCB to a comfortable chase of 193 and strengthening the team’s playoff hopes.
Kohli Creates More T20 History
The century marked Kohli’s 10th T20 hundred — the most by an Indian batter — and his record-extending ninth IPL century. It was also his third IPL hundred while chasing, equalling the record held by Jos Buttler.
Despite more than an hour’s delay due to heavy rain, the Raipur crowd witnessed a commanding batting display from the former RCB captain.
Kohli began aggressively, smashing four boundaries off Vaibhav Arora after getting off the mark with a single. He reached his half-century in just 32 balls before stitching together a crucial 92-run partnership with Devdutt Padikkal.
He eventually completed his century in style, remaining unbeaten till the end as RCB chased down the target with ease.
RCB Strengthen Playoff Push
The win lifted RCB back to the top of the IPL 2026 points table, putting them firmly in contention for a playoff berth. Meanwhile, KKR’s chances took a major hit as they remained stuck in eighth position.
RCB had entered the game under pressure after two consecutive defeats, but Kohli’s brilliance ensured a strong comeback for the Bengaluru franchise.
Raghuvanshi, Rinku Shine For KKR
Earlier, KKR posted 192/4 after strong contributions from Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Rinku Singh.
Raghuvanshi played the best knock of his IPL career, scoring 71 off 46 balls, while Rinku remained unbeaten on 49. The duo accelerated brilliantly in the middle overs and looked set to take KKR beyond 200.
However, disciplined death bowling from RCB pacers Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood and Rasikh Dar restricted the scoring in the final overs with accurate yorkers.
Raghuvanshi was run out on the final ball of the innings.
RCB Pacers Strike Early
RCB bowlers had made an early impact after the delayed start in Raipur. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood removed both KKR openers cheaply with the new ball.
Though Jacob Duffy leaked runs during the powerplay, RCB regained control in the middle overs before Kohli’s masterclass completed a memorable night for Bengaluru.
