Virat Kohli joked that he can still be “given some work” even after enduring his second straight duck in the IPL 2026—while also insisting that the nerves he carried into RCB’s latest assignment were exactly the kind of pressure that helps him sharpen up. The day’s mood shifted dramatically after his blazing, unbeaten 105 powered Royal Challengers Bengaluru to the summit of the points table.
Key takeaways
- Kohli had spoken about his consecutive ducks in IPL 2026 and credited Andy Flower with helping set him up for a bounce-back.
- RCB’s chase was driven by Kohli’s unbeaten 105, which lifted the side to first place in the standings.
- His knock marked his ninth IPL century and also his record 21st Player of the Match award.
- Kohli described pressure as a “privilege” that keeps him grounded and focused during training and match preparation.
- As the run chase tightened, Kohli accelerated through key phases, including a decisive spell of boundary hitting off Vaibhav Arora.
- After the century, he kept celebrations modest, emphasizing that finishing the game and securing the two points mattered most.
From back-to-back ducks to a record-breaking 105
Kohli’s light-hearted comments about his second consecutive duck in IPL 2026 came after RCB’s previous thrilling win over Mumbai Indians, secured on the final ball. When asked to address the team, he quipped about Flower “giving me some work,” using the moment as a reminder that even setbacks can be turned into motivation.
Only once before had Kohli suffered back-to-back ducks in the league—during the unusual stretch of 2022, when it felt as though every innings was judged against the lack of a century. That lean spell stretched for 1,020 days.
Four years on, even without being in the lead for the Orange Cap race, Kohli still had a clear pathway to finishing at the top—so it felt striking that he admitted to feeling nervous ahead of RCB’s match against Kolkata Knight Riders on Wednesday night.
Those nerves quickly transformed into dominance. Kohli remained unbeaten on 105, guiding RCB to the top of the points table. The innings brought his ninth IPL century and a record 21st Player of the Match recognition.
Pressure, practice and a chase that turned inevitable
Speaking after RCB’s eighth win of the season, Kohli framed pressure as something he welcomes rather than fears. He said people call it a privilege for a reason: it keeps a player humble, sharpens focus, and pushes him back into hard practice. He added that it prevents anyone from taking success for granted.
Kohli also explained the role nerves play in his preparation. He described butterflies as a sign that good pressure can improve performance, noting that when he is in rhythm he can sometimes ease off his intensity. In his view, a couple of matches that don’t go his way bring back the nervous energy—helping him return to the nets with renewed purpose and a stronger belief in his own game.
After opening his account with a fist pump and a yelp in Raipur, Kohli showed how his approach had evolved. He traded some of the classic, steady run accumulation for a more assertive style, an adjustment that has benefited him since late 2024.
That urgency became obvious when Vaibhav Arora tried to bowl his way through the chase. Kohli struck four boundaries in quick succession, displaying a full spectrum of shots. The standouts included a relaxed flick and a powerful back-foot drive over cover.
As the boundaries kept coming, emotion visibly took over. The first fist pump suggested relief, but the bicep-point toward the dugout after he struck Cameron Green—launching an emphatic hit over the boundary with authority—showed swagger. By the time the chase reached halfway, the feeling shifted toward inevitability, with his half-century arriving off just 32 balls.
Even the weather couldn’t spoil the atmosphere. Fans braved thunderstorms simply to watch Kohli bat. Many would have been happy just to see him enjoy warm-up inswingers and look like he was back to being a kid again—yet he delivered something far bigger.
His ball-reading and length selection delighted the crowd, especially when he spotted the chance and hurried back to smash a pull that cut through long-on and deep midwicket. That shot came off Sunil Narine, a bowler who had looked to hold the matchup advantage earlier.
When asked what pleased him most about the innings, Kohli focused on simple execution rather than flash. He said it came down to his positions at the crease—staying away from reckless extravagance, backing his game, and hitting plenty of fours while finding gaps. He also discussed being clear about where he wanted to hit sixes, which lengths worked best for him, and how he stayed in the contest by running hard for twos and taking boundaries when the situation demanded them.
He added that backing his usual shot-making kept his cricket consistent and “risk-free,” with the match situation always on his mind and the team’s needs at the forefront. For him, those elements were the most satisfying parts of the innings.
Key chase moments: pressure grows, Kohli responds
RCB’s chase carried a brief moment of hope for KKR when Devdutt Padikkal fell and then Rajat Patidar followed, after both had looked slightly exposed against the short ball. At that stage, RCB still required 60 from 36 deliveries, and there were early signs of pressure trying to bite.
But Kohli tore through it. Once again, Vaibhav Arora became the focal point. Kohli attacked him with near-purposeful force, snapping his wrists through the stroke so the bat came through with a familiar whip. The ball raced past long-on, and another boundary followed in the same over, easing the chase back into a comfortable rhythm.
Then came a shot that underlined how much control Kohli had over the evening: a lofted strike off Anukul Roy, the left-arm spinner. Kohli didn’t reach the ball as cleanly as he would have liked, yet he still committed to the swing. The moment contact was made, his body language suggested he already knew exactly where it was headed.
With the final three overs approaching, the chants of “Kohli, Kohli” swelled. Almost immediately, he answered with a strike that looked built for a highlight reel. Kartik Tyagi went full and angled it toward the batter’s middle and off side. Kohli simply shuffled into position and struck it over midwicket using wrists that continue to defy both angles and age. The timing looked so pure it barely seemed like a hit, but the ball still sailed for six, and Kohli lingered admiring the arc longer than earlier.
As he approached three figures, the fun element returned. He enjoyed himself with a few dance-like gestures to the DJ’s beats, but once he reached the century mark, the mood shifted back to calm purpose—just a simple wave toward the dugout.
Modest celebration, big focus on the points
Kohli explained why he didn’t turn the moment into a large celebration. He said RCB knew how important the points were right then. For him, it is always about trying to add value to the team’s total and understanding that if he stays at the crease for long enough, RCB’s chances of winning rise. He also admitted that going quiet in his last two outings bothered him because he believes he can score and is hitting the ball well.
Still, he stressed that when a batter doesn’t carry on—when he doesn’t create impact for the team—it remains frustrating, because the long-term goal for him has always been to make a difference. Whether it is a century or not, Kohli said the bigger priority is finishing the match, ensuring he is on the field until the end to secure two crucial points and move RCB back to the top of the table.
There was a sense that the knock meant more than a statistical milestone. It wasn’t a rescue effort; it was full authority and control—the kind Kohli enjoys wielding with the bat. It also reaffirmed a key truth: nervous energy still exists, and pressure still matters. After the runs, records and centuries, the competitiveness still burns strongly enough to pull him back into the nets the very next day if he fails.
He summed up his mindset by saying he gives his heart and soul whether he is batting or fielding, because the job will eventually finish for him one day. Kohli said he wants to make the most of each day he plays, enjoy himself, and look forward to pressure situations—especially moments when he can feel the heat. He described challenging himself to “go for it,” adding that crossing the line into execution makes him better, and that sport teaches you as a person too. For him, even after all these years and the numbers that come with them, what remains at the centre is the love of the game and the joy of striking the ball cleanly.
Krunal’s take on Kohli’s hunger
Nobody captured that attitude better than Krunal Pandya after RCB’s previous match, when he was asked whether there was any concern about Kohli following the pair of ducks.
Krunal smiled at the premise and replied that if Kohli doesn’t score runs in two games, it actually excites him. He suggested there is an incredible hunger in Kohli and that there is never tension around him. Krunal said he is confident Kohli will again produce “Virat Kohli things,” making it clear that the hard work and the drive behind the performances are always present.
