Virat Kohli delivered a highly charged dressing-room message after Royal Challengers Bengaluru completed a nail-biting one-run thriller in IPL 2026, edging past Mumbai Indians with a last-ball finish in Raipur. The win, achieved in a chase of 167 at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, lifted the defending champions to the summit of the points table and kept their playoff hopes firmly alive—now sitting just one victory away from confirming a spot in the knockout stage.
Key takeaways
- RCB overhauled 167 in Raipur to beat Mumbai Indians by two wickets off the final delivery.
- The chase was set back early as Kohli was dismissed for a golden duck in the opening over by Deepak Chahar.
- Krunal Pandya’s 73, played while dealing with severe cramps, was the backbone of Bengaluru’s fightback.
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar delivered a decisive six in the last over before Rasikh Salam Dar secured the win with a last-ball finish.
- Kohli’s post-match remarks highlighted the team’s resilience and also praised Bhuvneshwar for a standout all-round display.
RCB’s tense chase: early setbacks to late drama
Bengaluru’s chase began in the worst possible fashion, with Kohli departing for a first-over duck after Deepak Chahar struck in the opening phase. The situation worsened quickly when Devdutt Padikkal and Rajat Patidar also failed to make meaningful scores, leaving RCB reeling at 47/3 on a slow-looking track.
From there, Krunal Pandya took matters into his own hands. He battled through severe cramps while producing a gutsy innings of 73 that steadied the chase and dragged it deep enough for RCB to believe they could still get over the line. The momentum swung again in the death overs, with Bhuvneshwar Kumar smashing a crucial six in the final over to keep the target within reach.
With the equation turning razor-thin, Rasikh Salam Dar scrambled for the winning runs on the last ball, sealing a dramatic two-wicket triumph. Kohli’s leap and animated reaction immediately after the winning moment reflected just how much the result meant to the defending champions.
Kohli’s dressing-room speech: fight, belief and praise for the match-winners
Inside the dressing room, Kohli underlined the team’s determination and fighting spirit, framing the win as a requirement for anyone chasing multi-team success. He started by saying he would keep it short, then thanked Andy Flower for giving him the chance to contribute on the night.
Turning to the bigger message, Kohli stressed that victories in tight contests demand more than just talent. “If you want to win multi-team competitions, we need a team,” he said, adding that scrapping for runs and fighting hard is the only way to keep pushing through. He also singled out Bhuvneshwar for special credit, pointing to the veteran pacer’s impact with both bat and ball.
Earlier in the same evening, Bhuvneshwar had dismantled Mumbai’s top order by dismissing Ryan Rickelton, Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav. He then finished with figures of 4/23, turning the contest firmly in Bengaluru’s favour before the batting drama in the chase.
Kohli described Bhuvneshwar’s work in the Powerplay as brilliant, calling it a world-class execution of skills. He also referenced how the performance represented the sixth three-wicket haul of the season in just 11 matches, highlighting how extraordinary the wicket-taking stretch has been.
Bhuvneshwar, who now leads the wicket charts in IPL 2026 with 21 wickets, attributed his run to confidence and clean execution. He said that once a few good games arrive early, belief grows, and that he does not want to change what is working—keeping his focus on hitting the right areas, taking wickets, and benefiting from sharp fielding as chances come.
While praising the bowler’s craft, Kohli also acknowledged other members of the bowling unit, naming Romario Shepherd, Suyash Sharma and Rasikh Salam Dar. Shepherd was complimented for delivering top-notch bowling and for showing what he can do when he feels confident and lands the ball in the right spots. Kohli also praised Krunal Pandya under pressure for his bowling contribution, added that Suyash did his job, and said Rasikh was effective as well.
Kohli then addressed Bengaluru’s batting struggles, admitting they did not get the best start with the bat. He pointed out that, like the previous match, the side had gone through phases without ideal starts, but the difference this time was the fighting partnership that came from the middle. He specifically credited Krunal and Tim David for keeping the chase alive when it mattered most.
He referenced how, in earlier games, Rajat had stepped up while Krunal had contributed, and that Tim David had made an impact in the last outing too. “This game around again, he stuck in and got us an important partnership with KP,” Kohli said, underlining that those contributions were crucial in allowing RCB to chase the target down.
With this victory, RCB’s campaign takes on even greater urgency as they sit at the top and move one step closer to confirming their place in the playoffs.
