Virat Kohli’s public stance on the Impact Player concept has now been tested—and in a twist of irony, it has also come to define his latest IPL moment. On Wednesday at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain was named an Impact Player against Lucknow Super Giants despite fitness doubts, then delivered a knock that swung the contest in RCB’s favour as they chased the target with time to spare.
Key takeaways
- Kohli has previously said he would rather “quit cricket” than play the Impact Player role, a position he held within the RCB set-up.
- Against Lucknow Super Giants, Kohli was listed as an Impact Player after being deemed only half-fit.
- He scored a match-changing 49, helping RCB secure a five-wicket triumph.
- RCB chased Lucknow’s 147 in 15.1 overs to move to the top of the points table.
- After the win, Kohli admitted he was still not fully fit, citing soreness and illness.
Kohli’s earlier stand against the Impact Player rule
The Impact Player rule was introduced in the IPL in 2023, and Kohli has long been one of the senior voices questioning the idea. As the league started using the concept more openly—particularly with players such as Rohit Sharma taking on the role—debate also intensified over whether MS Dhoni could be deployed in a similar manner. Kohli, however, made his view clear during the previous year inside the RCB environment: he insisted he would not take the field as an Impact Player.
That position came full circle on Wednesday when Kohli’s involvement in the match against Lucknow began under the Impact Player framework, even though he was not at his best physically.
Revelation of “I will quit cricket” from RCB teammate Swastik Chikara
The words were not delivered by Kohli in a direct public interview. Instead, they were brought to light by former RCB team-mate Swastik Chikara, who discussed Kohli’s hardline stance on the rule. Speaking earlier, Chikara described how Kohli’s message was that he would only play if he was completely fit, and that he would not accept the Impact Player approach.
Chikara recalled Kohli’s reasoning: as long as he is playing, he wants to be ready to contribute in the full rhythm of the match—fielding for the complete quota and then batting. Chikara added that Kohli’s bottom line was that if the day came when he had to perform as an Impact Player, he would rather quit cricket.
What triggered the switch to Impact Player status
The immediate reason for Kohli’s altered role was injury. He had picked up an ankle problem during RCB’s game against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium, with the incident happening just five deliveries into the 10th over of RCB’s innings. Kohli received treatment on the field and then walked off, not returning for the second innings.
Before the clash with Lucknow Super Giants, Kohli was seen training with a left leg heavily strapped. That visual cue raised doubts about whether he could move freely enough to start. He did go through light running sessions, but there were signs he was not operating at full mobility.
At the toss, captain Rajat Patidar did not mention Kohli’s situation, and the veteran was left out of the starting XI. However, Kohli returned in the second innings as an Impact Player and opened the batting alongside Phil Salt.
Impact cameo: Kohli’s 49 and RCB’s chase
Even with fitness concerns hanging over his availability, Kohli looked sharp once he got going. He attacked Mohammed Shami and Prince Yadav with a sequence of boundaries that quickly settled RCB’s chase.
Kohli accelerated to 40 off his opening 20 balls, setting the tone during the powerplay. He then fell just short of a half-century, dismissed by Avesh Khan. Still, his brisk innings proved decisive—RCB chased down Lucknow’s 147 target in 15.1 overs and finished the match with five wickets to spare, also taking the top spot in the table.
Post-match admission: “Still not 100%”
After the win, Kohli acknowledged he was not fully fit. He said his knee had been sore during the previous match and added that, from a health perspective, he had been unwell for several days. Despite that, he expressed satisfaction with how he began and the intensity he brought to his spell at the crease.
Kohli also noted that while he would have liked to finish the chase, match conditions and the realities of his body meant he had to account for more than just momentum.
