Virat Kohli struck an unbeaten 105 as Royal Challengers Bengaluru defeated Kolkata Knight Riders to move to the summit of the IPL 2026 points table on Wednesday. The defending champions put in a convincing all-round performance, with Kohli in especially commanding touch as he notched his ninth IPL century. Beyond the headline-making knock, the right-hander also produced a standout DRS moment that drew plenty of attention from viewers and commentators.
During the ninth over of RCB’s innings, Devdutt Padikkal attempted a reverse-sweep off Anukul Roy. The shot failed to connect properly, and Angkrish Raghuvanshi collected the ball cleanly near the off-side. Padikkal seemed unsure, but Kohli pushed him to review the decision. Replays later backed Kohli’s call, with the third umpire overturning the original outcome and ruling it a wide. After the successful review, Kohli even let out a brief celebration, underlining how quickly those small calls can swing the game.
Batting first, KKR posted 192/4 in their 20 overs, with Raghuvanshi leading the way by scoring 71. Rinku Singh provided late acceleration, adding a brisk 49 to help set a challenging target. In reply, Kohli powered RCB’s chase with a near-flawless display, and the chase ended with the defending champions reaching the required total with 5 balls to spare.
Kohli also spoke about the mindset behind the moment and the broader importance of points. “The celebration wasn’t a big one because we understand how crucial the points are right now. For me, it’s about making a conscious effort to contribute to the team’s score. If I’m able to bat long enough, our chances of winning keep improving,” Kohli said.
He added that recent matches have left him hungry to make a bigger impact. “It’s been eating me up that I didn’t get many runs in the last two games. I know I can play well and I’m hitting the ball well, but when you don’t carry on and you haven’t created that impact for the team, it bothers you—because that’s been the goal for all these years. I want to be the best version of myself for the side and make a difference when I play,” Kohli explained.
Wrapping up his thoughts, Kohli emphasised the result over individual milestones. “Century or no century, the more important thing is finishing the game—staying out there till the end to secure those two points. That’s what puts us at the top of the table,” he concluded after the match.
