Royal Challengers Bengaluru batter Virat Kohli is enduring an unusually quiet stretch in IPL 2026. The RCB star has managed two consecutive ducks and has not reached a fifty in his last four matches, and that recent form has put extra focus on how he approaches his next innings. Ahead of RCB’s Wednesday clash in Raipur, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) assistant coach Shane Watson shared his thoughts on Kohli’s mindset and what the reigning challengers’ rival will likely try to do with the bat.
Kohli’s lean run and the recent “golden duck”
Kohli’s current struggles were highlighted in RCB’s previous outing against Mumbai Indians (MI), where he was dismissed for a golden duck. He fell after striking at an aggressive shot, and that dismissal added to a spell that has seen him repeatedly fail to convert starts into substantial scores.
Watson on Kohli: intent from ball one, but smart control
Watson, who works as an assistant coach with KKR, said he hopes Kohli will display a similar attacking approach as he did in the last game. Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Watson suggested that Kohli could look to go for a more forceful stroke right from the start of his innings.
- Watson expressed hope that Kohli tries to play a more aggressive shot early, similar to the approach from the earlier match.
- At the same time, Watson acknowledged that Kohli is intelligent enough to avoid repeating an ill-timed stroke.
- He noted that opponents always create plans around perceived weaknesses, but Kohli typically finds ways to handle those challenges effectively.
- Watson added that KKR must be sharp from the very first ball, because Kohli often builds a platform for his side and accelerates it quickly.
- He finished by saying KKR will be “fingers crossed” that they get a rare mistake from Kohli.
Playoff picture: KKR’s momentum versus RCB’s top-spot push
The matchup in Raipur carries significant tournament weight. KKR have clawed their way back into playoff contention with four straight victories. After a difficult start in which they went winless in their first six IPL 2026 games, a win against RCB on Wednesday would place them only two points away from the playoff places.
RCB, however, have motivation of their own. If they beat KKR, they would reclaim the No. 1 position on the points table, making the contest a high-stakes battle for both franchises.
- KKR are entering the game on the back of four consecutive wins.
- KKR had previously lost all of their first six matches in IPL 2026.
- A KKR victory over RCB would move them to within two points of the playoff spots.
- RCB can return to the top of the points table with a win against KKR.
