Royal Challengers Bengaluru star Virat Kohli may have delivered a knock that swung the game in his team’s favour against the Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League 2026 on Friday at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, but the experienced batter admitted he was not entirely pleased with how things unfolded. In a chase of 206, the 37-year-old struck 81 runs to steer RCB to their target with five wickets still available and seven balls remaining.
Kohli also played a key role in a 115-run partnership with Devdutt Padikkal for the third wicket, a stand that laid the foundation for the successful chase by the defending champions. At one stage, it looked as though Kohli would reach his century with minimal resistance, yet his momentum was checked when he was dismissed by Jason Holder while trying to accelerate the scoring rate.
In the end, Kohli made 81 off 44 balls, finishing his innings with eight boundaries and four maximums. Despite the match-winning contribution, the batter left the dressing room reflecting on what could have been—an assessment echoed after the game by Gujarat Titans assistant coach Vijay Dahiya.
Speaking to reporters at the post-match press conference, Dahiya said Kohli was disappointed because, in his view, he could have turned the innings into a hundred. Dahiya explained that he discussed the matter with the RCB captain after the match, highlighting Kohli’s regret at not completing the milestone. “I think it’s amazing. If you look at his energy. One thing is about skill, one thing is about game sense. But his awareness, his energy and his willingness. After the game, I was just having a chat with him, and he was disappointed. He was saying that I could have converted this into a 100. I said, ‘It’s for somebody who doesn’t know how to do it. You have been doing it day in and day out’. He made the surface look really easy. It wasn’t an easy wicket,” Dahiya said.
Dahiya further added that Kohli’s outlook and tactical control distinguish him when the match situation demands smart decisions. He pointed to Kohli’s ability to put pressure on bowlers and dictate terms during the innings. “When you are playing and when you are commanding the situation, you make the bowler bowl where you want him to bowl. And that’s the kind of innings Virat has played. Put pressure on the bowlers. And world-class bowlers. That’s what Virat Kohli is all about. It’s his mindset that sets him apart from many people. He’s one of the best runners so far; he’s pushing the youngsters on his side,” he added.
RCB move to the second spot
With the win over the Gujarat Titans, RCB climbed to second place in the points table, sitting just behind Punjab Kings. In the match, the RCB captain won the toss and chose to bowl first.
Gujarat managed 205/3 in their 20 overs, building their total around a century from Sai Sudharsan. Even though Sudharsan and Shubman Gill put together a 128-run opening stand, Gujarat failed to convert that platform into a more substantial score, finishing on 205 runs.
RCB then completed the chase thanks to half-centuries from Kohli and Padikkal, with both batters providing the crucial momentum required to stay on target and finish the job.
RCB’s next assignment will be against the Delhi Capitals on Monday at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.
