Virat Kohli turned the Ahmedabad evening into a highlight reel as Royal Challengers Bangalore took on Gujarat Titans in IPL 2026 on Thursday. The RCB talisman launched a brutal assault on GT pacer Kagiso Rabada, smashing five boundaries to close out a blistering 21-run over and giving his side an immediate momentum boost. Kohli struck Rabada for five straight fours during the second over of the contest, a spell that set the tone early and put pressure on the Titans from the very beginning.
The impact of that burst was immediate and historic in RCB terms as well. Kohli became only the third batter for Bangalore to hit five or more fours in a single over, joining an elite group that includes Chris Gayle and Shane Watson. His feat added another chapter to a record that already features some of the franchise’s most destructive innings, underscoring how dangerous Kohli can be when he finds rhythm against the right matchup.
That list also includes Gayle’s five-boundary over versus Ishwar Pandey in Bengaluru in 2013, and Watson’s five fours off Thisara Perera in Bengaluru in 2016. Now Kohli has added his name to the same exclusive bracket, with five fours against Kagiso Rabada in Ahmedabad in 2026, further cementing his ability to turn an ordinary over into a turning point.
Kohli’s knack for punishing bowlers in short bursts isn’t limited to Rabada or this season. He previously produced a memorable onslaught during IPL 2016 against Gujarat Lions’ spinner Shivil Kaushik, when he hammered 28 runs in an over. That stretch featured four sixes and a four, and it came in the 19th over—an indication of how quickly Kohli can change the complexion of a chase or a platform-building innings. He ultimately carried that dominance through to a big personal tally in the same match, finishing with a century, scoring 109 off 55 balls.
Still, this time the story didn’t follow the same arc. After Kohli’s explosive start, Rabada responded in the very next over and managed to get his revenge. Kohli’s momentum was cut short, and he was dismissed for 28 runs off just 13 deliveries—an abrupt end to an innings that had looked set to grow rapidly.
With this meeting, RCB and GT are crossing paths for the second time in the season. Their first encounter came at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, where the home side proved dominant and secured a win by 5 wickets over the visitors. That earlier result gives some context to where both teams stand, but it also sets up a fresh contest in Ahmedabad with plenty still left to be decided.
In head-to-head terms, RCB hold a slight advantage. Across seven matches so far, Bangalore have won four times, while Gujarat Titans have emerged victorious in three of those meetings. Their first-ever clash dates back to April 30, 2022, when Gujarat Titans won the match—an early marker in the rivalry that has since built into a regular feature of the league calendar.
Gujarat Titans, however, have not had a runaway season so far. They began the campaign with a mixed record, having played eight matches and won four, with losses in the other four. As things stand in the IPL 2026 points table, Shubman Gill’s side are placed fifth, setting up a contest where every over matters as they look to climb higher.
Coming into this fixture, GT’s immediate confidence comes from their most recent performance: they picked up a dominant 8-wicket win against Chennai Super Kings (CSK). That result suggests they are capable of controlling games both in the chase and in the way they manage momentum, even if their overall season numbers have been more balanced than spectacular.
RCB’s season trajectory is steadier and stronger at the moment. They are currently positioned second in the points table, having recorded six wins from eight matches, and they are arriving with a fresh wave of form. Bangalore’s latest outing ended in emphatic fashion as they beat Delhi Capitals (DC) by 9 wickets, a result that reflects both their batting firepower and their ability to see games through once the advantage is established.
