Virat Kohli created a fresh landmark on Wednesday after being named in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s playing XI for their IPL 2026 fixture against Kolkata Knight Riders in Raipur. The appearance was Kohli’s 279th match in the league, elevating him to the most-capped batter in IPL history.
Prior to this game, Kohli had shared the record with MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma, with both sitting on 278 appearances. Dhoni is still yet to play a match this IPL despite being listed as part of the Chennai Super Kings squad for IPL 2026, while Rohit is featuring for Mumbai Indians.
Quick facts
- Virat Kohli made his 279th IPL appearance for RCB versus KKR in Raipur.
- The match was played at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium.
- RCB won the toss and chose to bowl first.
- RCB are second in the points table with seven wins from 11 matches.
- KKR are eighth in the points table with four wins from 10 matches.
RCB captain Rajat Patidar said the team expects conditions to resemble their earlier outing at the same venue, with the surface offering some unpredictable bounce. He added that the side is carrying confidence from a recent run of form and wants to keep applying pressure through consistent cricket.
Patidar’s message was clear: bowl first, stick to the plan, and try to keep KKR under sustained control. He also pointed out that the wicket should play in a similar manner to the previous match there, while acknowledging that there may be variations in how the ball comes onto the bat.
Table situation and momentum
At the moment, RCB sit second on the points table, having won seven of their 11 matches. Bengaluru have bounced back strongly after suffering two successive losses, recovering with a narrow two-wicket triumph over Mumbai Indians in a closely fought contest.
That win has given RCB momentum, and they will be looking to turn it into another result here to strengthen their grip on a playoff berth. The equation is straightforward for the franchise: secure a victory and move closer to confirmation when the race tightens.
KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane, meanwhile, said his team would also have preferred to bowl first. He also stressed that the objective remains in striking a simple, game-by-game approach as they chase a playoff spot, pointing to strong performances in their most recent run.
Rahane noted that the last four matches have gone well for KKR, with multiple players stepping up. He framed the mindset as focusing on one contest at a time and keeping the plan uncomplicated when the match demands it.
On the standings, KKR are eighth, with four wins from ten matches. After an initially difficult start, they have revitalised their campaign with four consecutive victories, and they will aim to continue that upward trend against one of their key opponents.
With both teams approaching the contest at different stages of their season—RCB chasing continuity and KKR hunting momentum—the Raipur clash promises to be a high-stakes battle for position and confidence in IPL 2026.
