Virat Kohli turned Raipur into another chapter of his successful chase craft as Royal Challengers Bengaluru defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by six wickets with three balls to spare in IPL 2026 on Wednesday. Chasing 193, Kohli finished unbeaten on 105 off 60 deliveries, guiding RCB to top spot in the standings. The knock marked his ninth IPL century, a tally that keeps him ahead in the all-time leaderboard for tournament hundreds.
Kolkata’s 192/4 sets a testing target
KKR posted 192/4 after being sent in, a total that created plenty of pressure during the chase. Angkrish Raghuvanshi struck 71 to give Kolkata a strong platform, while Rinku Singh remained unbeaten on 49 to add the late impetus required in a chase of this size.
- KKR’s final total: 192/4
- Raghuvanshi: 71
- Rinku Singh: 49* (unbeaten)
Kolkata’s innings had an early wobble, losing Finn Allen and Ajinkya Rahane in the opening phase. After that, Raghuvanshi helped stabilise the middle overs, and Rinku ensured the innings didn’t fade in the closing stages. For RCB, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood and Rasikh Salam Dar each claimed a wicket, but the breakthrough still couldn’t stop Kolkata from reaching a score that kept the contest wide open.
RCB chase: Kohli turns pressure into control
RCB required clarity, and Kohli provided it from the start. He opened the batting alongside Jacob Bethell and set the tone early by keeping the scoreboard ticking without letting the required run-rate become uncomfortable.
- Kohli opened with Jacob Bethell
- Vaibhav Arora was punished for four boundaries
- KKR dropped Kohli when he was on 21 (Rovman Powell)
- Devdutt Padikkal was dismissed soon after
As the chase moved deeper, Kohli and Padikkal took charge of the middle overs, ensuring RCB stayed ahead of the equation. The innings never spiralled into panic because Kohli kept finding gaps, rotated the strike intelligently, and punished anything loose. He then carried the momentum into the final stretch, reached his century before wrapping up the chase, and finished unbeaten—giving RCB a successful run chase with three balls left.
Kohli’s century impact and the playoff picture
The 105* meant far more than a personal milestone. It took Kohli further clear at the top of the IPL century chart with nine hundreds, three more than Chris Gayle and Jos Buttler. Just as importantly, the century snapped a brief dip in his form—coming after two straight golden ducks that had intensified scrutiny around his batting.
For RCB, the result was enormous. The win lifted them to the summit of the IPL 2026 table and strengthened their playoff push with only two league games remaining. The chase underlined how experience can be decisive in a high-pressure pursuit, with Kohli anchoring the innings while keeping the tempo under control.
For KKR, the loss carried near-fatal weight. They are not officially eliminated yet from the playoffs race, but the path forward has narrowed dramatically. With the defeat, their hopes now depend heavily on other results, net run rate, and multiple favourable outcomes—because their maximum possible points no longer puts them in full control of their own campaign.
- RCB: moved to top of the IPL 2026 table; boosted playoff chances with two matches left
- KKR: not yet mathematically out, but playoff route now almost gone
- KKR’s progression now depends on other results, net run rate, and a chain of favourable outcomes
Kolkata had everything available to them—runs on the board, chances in the field, and an early opportunity when Kohli was dropped. Yet it wasn’t enough. RCB finished with the win, the top spot, and another night defined by Kohli’s century, while KKR walked away with 192/4 and a six-wicket defeat that leaves their playoff hopes hanging by a thread.
