Virat Kohli has surged up the IPL 2026 Orange Cap standings after producing a memorable unbeaten hundred against Kolkata Knight Riders on Wednesday night. Before the game, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru batter had dropped to 10th place in the run-scorers’ race following consecutive innings ending in ducks. In Raipur, Kohli answered in style—smashing 105 not out off 60 balls—to steer RCB to a successful chase of 193 and take his team to the summit of the IPL 2026 points table. The knock also propelled Kohli from 10th to third on the Orange Cap list, putting him back firmly in the thick of the tournament’s leading run-machine.
Orange Cap race: where Kohli stands after the KKR knock
Kohli’s 105* has reshaped the top of the Orange Cap leaderboard, with the RCB star climbing sharply after a difficult patch at the start of the run chase.
- Heinrich Klaasen (Sunrisers Hyderabad): 12 matches, 1153 runs, strike rate 153.93, average 50.80
- Sai Sudharsan (Gujarat Titans): 12 matches, 1155 runs, strike rate 155.10, average 41.75
- Virat Kohli (Royal Challengers Bengaluru): 12 matches, 1165 runs, strike rate 165.75, average 53.78
- Abhishek Sharma (Sunrisers Hyderabad): 12 matches, 1209 runs, strike rate 120.91, average 43.73
- KL Rahul (Delhi Capitals): 12 matches, 1177 runs, strike rate 177.98, average 43.36
How RCB chased 193 in Raipur with Kohli at the centre
Kohli’s unbeaten innings once again arrived in his most comfortable scenario: a chase. RCB were set a challenging target of 193, and the opener delivered an anchor role while still keeping the required momentum. He guided the chase to completion with five balls remaining, ensuring the run at the top of the points table matched the personal rewards on offer.
The century also carried added weight for Kohli’s record books. During the innings, he became the quickest batter in cricket history to reach 14,000 T20 runs, achieving the milestone in just 409 innings. It was also his ninth IPL century, extending his tally of tournament hundreds and underlining his standing among the most accomplished T20 batters of the modern era.
Kohli on milestones, pressure and staying grounded
Despite the avalanche of landmarks, Kohli kept his focus simple when speaking after the match. He stressed that the joy of batting remains the driving force, and that the honour of playing at the highest level against the world’s best continues to motivate him.
“Well, I just love batting, even after all this. That’s my core feeling,” Kohli said during the post-match presentation. “What an honour it is to still play at this level and compete against the very best in the world. Cricket is something I truly love. I give my heart and soul every time I step onto the field because one day it will all end, and I want to make the most of every moment,” he added.
Kohli also made it clear that high-pressure moments do not unsettle him—they energise him. He described how challenging situations are exactly where he feels at his best, welcoming the heat and expectations that come with those spells of the game.
He further added that pressure situations continue to motivate him rather than intimidate him. “I enjoy challenging myself in difficult situations. I look forward to moments where there’s pressure and heat because that’s when you test yourself and say, just go for it,” Kohli said.
