Virat Kohli delivered a vintage spell of batting at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Thursday, unleashing a stunning run of boundaries by smashing five straight fours off Kagiso Rabada to mark a memorable milestone in IPL 2026. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain looked in ruthless touch from the earliest moments, dismantling Rabada’s rhythm in the second over and leaving a clear statement of intent for the rest of the innings.
Kohli’s explosive milestone against Rabada
That over produced the standout moment of the match: Kohli’s burst of consecutive fours, which quickly became the talking point of the day. With the sequence, he joined an exclusive set of batters who have managed five or more boundaries in a single over for Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
- Only the third time for RCB: Kohli became just the third batter in the franchise’s history to hit five or more fours in one over.
- Previous RCB instances: Chris Gayle did it in 2013 against Ishwar Pandey in Bengaluru, while Shane Watson matched the mark in 2016 against Thisara Perera in Bengaluru.
- Kohli’s addition: Kohli achieved the feat in Ahmedabad, hitting five or more fours off Kagiso Rabada in IPL 2026.
What Kohli’s over revealed about his strokeplay
The boundaries weren’t just a collection of lucky hits—they covered a broad spectrum of Kohli’s shot-making. The scoring streak showcased a mix of controlled aggression and timing, reinforcing why he continues to be among the most dangerous batters when he gets going.
- Variety of shots: The over included authoritative pulls, clean drives, and late cuts.
- Dominance over elite bowling: The sequence highlighted Kohli’s ability to take apart top-tier bowlers, even when they are at the peak of their craft.
Early surge, then Rabada’s response
RCB’s momentum surged immediately once Kohli took charge. In Rabada’s opening over, the damage was already significant, with 21 runs flowing from it. Kohli then accelerated to 28 runs off his first 10 balls, including a six off Mohammed Siraj—an opening stretch that matched the joint-fastest start of his T20 career in terms of runs scored from his first ten deliveries.
But the story didn’t end there. Rabada regrouped in the very next over, refusing to let the early assault define the remainder of his spell. He bowled a sharp, short ball that cramped Kohli, and the batter (28 off 13) ended up mistiming the shot, producing a top edge that was caught comfortably by Rashid Khan at mid-wicket.
- Rabada’s opening over: 21 runs conceded as Kohli struck hard early.
- Fast start from Kohli: 28 off 10 balls, with a six off Mohammed Siraj—matching his joint-fastest T20 start from his first ten deliveries.
- Rabada’s comeback: In the next over, a short delivery forced a mistimed top edge.
- Dismissal: Kohli out for 28 off 13, caught by Rashid Khan at mid-wicket.
The rivalry angle and match impact
Kohli’s dismissal carried an extra edge for Rabada’s campaign. The wicket was the fifth time Rabada has removed Kohli in T20 cricket, underlining the competitive dynamic between the two international stars. Even with his brief stay, Kohli’s early fireworks set the tone for the innings and gave RCB the kind of momentum that can swing T20 contests quickly.
With his aggressive approach against a bowler of Rabada’s calibre, Kohli’s start stood out as one of the defining moments of the match—an early reminder that when he finds rhythm, he can make even the world’s best bowlers look ordinary.
