Virat Kohli once again proved why he remains one of the most influential players in the Indian Premier League, delivering a brilliant unbeaten century that guided Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a six-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders in an IPL 2026 clash in Raipur on Wednesday. The veteran batter walked out to the crease under pressure after two consecutive ducks in his previous matches, but he responded with a calm and composed knock that helped his team chase down a competitive total and move to the top of the points table.
Kohli’s century carried special significance because it came at a time when questions were being asked about his recent form. The 35-year-old admitted after the match that failing to score in the previous games had been troubling him. He explained that when he knows he is hitting the ball well but still cannot convert it into runs, it bothers him because his biggest goal has always been to make an impact for the team. That mindset, he said, has driven him throughout his career — constantly pushing himself to become a better version of the player he was yesterday.
The century was also historic from a statistical point of view. During the match, Kohli became the player with the most appearances in IPL history, playing his 279th game in the tournament and surpassing legends MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma. The knock was his ninth IPL hundred, extending his own record for the most centuries in the league, and it was his first IPL ton since the 2024 season.
Despite reaching the milestone, Kohli chose to celebrate quietly. According to him, the team’s victory and the importance of the points mattered more than personal celebrations. He revealed that he kept his batting approach simple during the chase — focusing on his positioning at the crease, reading the length of the ball early, and finding gaps rather than attempting extravagant shots. That measured approach allowed him to control the innings and guide RCB safely to the target.
Kohli also spoke openly about dealing with pressure. He described pressure as a privilege, explaining that it keeps players grounded and motivates them to improve. A couple of poor games, he said, can make a player nervous, but that nervousness often becomes the fuel that pushes them to perform better the next time they step onto the field.
Reflecting on his journey in professional cricket, Kohli made a heartfelt remark that captured the emotions of many fans. He said he continues to give everything on the field because he knows that a sporting career does not last forever. The love for batting, he explained, still drives him every day. The joy of hitting the ball perfectly in the middle of the bat remains the same, even after so many years at the highest level of the game.
RCB captain Rajat Patidar praised the team’s overall performance after the match, saying it felt great to see players stepping up at different stages of the tournament. He highlighted how the bowlers managed to pull things back after the halfway mark of KKR’s innings, restricting them to 192 runs despite a strong start. That effort, he said, gave the batting unit a realistic target to chase.
With this win, Royal Challengers Bengaluru moved to the top of the IPL standings with 16 points, overtaking Gujarat Titans. The result not only strengthened their playoff hopes but also showed how crucial Kohli’s experience and composure remain for the franchise.
For fans, the innings was another reminder that even after years of records and achievements, Virat Kohli’s passion for the game remains unchanged — and as long as he continues to walk out to bat, moments like this will keep defining his remarkable career.