Virat Kohli has reflected on what makes Chennai Super Kings versus Royal Challengers Bengaluru encounters at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium so electric, pointing to the blend of on-field rivalry and the intensity of travelling supporters that turns these matches into events rather than ordinary fixtures.
Key takeaways
- Kohli said CSK games in Bengaluru are uniquely high-voltage because large numbers of Chennai fans turn up as well.
- He contrasted fan energy across cities, describing Chennai as overwhelmingly “yellow” and Bengaluru as more welcoming to visitors.
- Kohli noted that RCB supporters typically do not travel in similar numbers to Chennai compared with CSK supporters in Bengaluru.
- He added that CSK fans in Bengaluru often buy tickets early and fill a full section, fueling louder stands and extra banter.
- Kohli’s comments came in a video clip shared for 2025 coverage.
Why CSK vs RCB at Bengaluru feels different
In a video shared by Star Sports on Instagram, Kohli explained that the intensity of CSK versus RCB clashes is driven by more than just the rivalry between teams. He highlighted the atmosphere created by supporters, especially in Bengaluru, where Chennai fans show up in notable numbers when RCB take on CSK at the Chinnaswamy.
Kohli described Bengaluru as a place where people are eager to come and watch the game, while Chennai, in his view, is dominated by CSK’s colours and a firm sense of home advantage. He said that when CSK plays at their own venue, the crowd presence feels like it completely takes over the stadium experience.
He also stressed an imbalance in travel patterns between the two fan bases. According to Kohli, RCB fans are not as commonly seen in Chennai, whereas CSK supporters make their presence felt in large quantities in Bengaluru—an effect he believes contributes to the match’s special edge.
RCB’s 2026 start and what’s next
The defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, have begun their IPL 2026 campaign strongly. RCB opened their tournament by thrashing Sunrisers Hyderabad by six wickets in the season opener.
Kohli played a major role in that victory, producing an unbeaten 69 off 38 balls. His innings included five fours and an equal number of sixes, and it guided RCB to chase down a target of 202 runs in 15.4 overs.
On Sunday, RCB are set to take on a struggling Chennai Super Kings side that has already suffered two consecutive defeats in the ongoing IPL season.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru squad
- Virat Kohli
- Philip Salt
- Devdutt Padikkal
- Rajat Patidar (captain)
- Tim David
- Jitesh Sharma (wicketkeeper)
- Krunal Pandya
- Romario Shepherd
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar
- Suyash Sharma
- Jacob Duffy
- Josh Hazlewood
- Rasikh Salam Dar
- Venkatesh Iyer
- Mangesh Yadav
- Vihaan Malhotra
- Vicky Ostwal
- Abhinandan Singh
- Jacob Bethell
- Jordan Cox
- Swapnil Singh
- Abhinandan Singh
- Satvik Deswal
