Former Royal Challengers Bengaluru batter Aaron Finch praised Virat Kohli after the India star produced a rapid, unbeaten century that lifted RCB to the summit of the IPL 2026 table. Kohli steered his side to a six-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders in New Raipur on Wednesday, keeping his composure through the chase and finishing it with time to spare.
Quick facts
- Virat Kohli scored an unbeaten 105 off 60 balls (11 fours, three sixes) for RCB.
- RCB chased 193 and reached 194/4 in 19.1 overs against Kolkata Knight Riders in New Raipur.
- Finch hailed Kohli’s form, calling the timing and shot selection “class”.
- Kohli’s recent run includes ducks in his last two innings versus Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants.
- Kohli sits third in the Orange Cap race with 484 runs in 12 matches (average 53.78, strike rate 165.75).
- RCB’s playoff route depends on results in their final two fixtures, though their NRR is the tournament’s best.
With the chase set at 193, Kohli took on the anchoring role and never looked like surrendering the momentum. He struck early, getting off the mark with his first delivery in the opening over, then added four more boundaries in the following over off Vaibhav Arora.
As the innings developed, one moment shifted the contest. When Kohli was on 21, Rovman Powell spilled a difficult chance, and the reprieve proved costly for KKR. Kohli kept building, moving to his fifty off 32 balls and then combining with Devdutt Padikkal to forge a match-defining 92-run partnership.
Kohli’s seventh gear
After settling in, Kohli accelerated with a sequence of sharp scoring strokes that took the chase within reach. His innings culminated in his ninth IPL hundred, delivered with an unbeaten finish as RCB powered to 194/4 in 19.1 overs.
The timing of the century mattered too, given Kohli’s recent lean patch. Finch pointed out that Kohli had recorded ducks in his previous two innings against Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants, making this breakthrough all the more significant.
Speaking on JioHotstar, Finch said: “It would have been important for him just to get off the mark. Nobody wants to get three ducks in a row. Some of those shots were absolutely class. His ability to sum up the conditions straight away is second to none.”
Finch also reflected on how Kohli managed his innings from ball one. “The way he got into his work so quickly and was able to get his innings underway with no risk was great. That’s the dream as a player at the top of the order,” he added. He continued, “We always know that if you allow him to have a look at a wicket for some time, he will be successful. When he’s playing at his absolute best, you feel as though he’s swinging the bat at 50 per cent. He just finds the middle, and he’s got that gift of timing. It was a wonderful knock. Any time he needed to find the boundary, he did.”
On the tournament leaderboard, Kohli’s latest effort keeps him climbing the scoring charts. He is now third in the Orange Cap race with 484 runs across 12 matches, at an average of 53.78 and a strike rate of 165.75.
RCB’s playoff picture
With this win, RCB have tightened their grip on a top-two finish. If they win both of their remaining matches, they will end up among the league’s two leading teams. If they drop one game, they would need to beat fourth-placed Punjab Kings, a result that would likely take them to qualification with 18 points, keeping NRR out of the equation.
Should RCB lose to Punjab Kings, they may require other outcomes to fall in their favour. Even then, they remain well positioned because their net run rate is the best in the tournament. If it holds at 16, it is expected to be the key cushion if results elsewhere swing around the qualification race.
