Royal Challengers Bengaluru\u2019s batting order looks built to overwhelm opponents from the very first ball. At the top, Virat Kohli leads the charge alongside Phil Salt and Devdutt Padikkal, while the middle overs are loaded with big-hitting firepower through Rajat Patidar, Jitesh Sharma, Tim David and Romario Shepherd. The way RCB have structured their lineup means the pressure rarely stays in one place for long\u2014once one phase ends, another one begins immediately, often with hitters entering at the exact moment a bowling unit thinks it has gained control.<\/p>\n
Among the group, Patidar\u2019s transformation has stood out this season. The RCB captain currently sits third on the run-scoring chart for IPL 2026. In his first five appearances, he has amassed 222 runs at a staggering strike rate of 213.46, a return that reflects both his intent and his ability to accelerate precisely when the match situation calls for it. That form was in the spotlight after RCB secured a five-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants while chasing a target of 147 at Bengaluru on Wednesday, and Kohli was asked to assess what makes Patidar\u2019s approach so effective.<\/p>\n
Kohli\u2019s praise went beyond raw numbers. He described Patidar\u2019s role as a key part of the team\u2019s internal targets\u2014explaining that the batter\u2019s job is to read the moment and respond accordingly. \u201cWe have our KPIs as a batting unit, and it says Rajat has to go in and assess the situation,\u201d Kohli said. He then added that the assessment isn\u2019t only about the score or the conditions, but also about understanding the bowler\u2019s rhythms\u2014going as far as suggesting Patidar is effectively looking at the bowler\u2019s heart rate rather than just the scoreboard. Kohli called the clarity behind that mindset \u201cincredible.\u201d<\/p>\n
The captain also credited RCB\u2019s planning at a broader level, arguing that the management\u2019s team balance allows them to play a specific brand of cricket. In his view, the batting plan is designed so that different players can take responsibility in sequence rather than trying to force the same role from everyone. \u201cAlso, the way our management has stacked up our team allows us to play in a certain way,\u201d Kohli said. \u201cI have to adapt my role accordingly. It allows me to play a certain way up front with Salty.\u201d He noted that the baton gets passed smoothly within the squad, which helps keep the momentum even when innings conditions change.<\/p>\n
Kohli further highlighted the advantage of depth and freedom\u2014pointing out the presence of hitters like Romario and Tim, and stressing that Romario and Tim can come in with the game already trending toward a chase-or-defend scenario. He mentioned that Jitesh Sharma\u2014referred to as \u201cKP\u201d in the conversation\u2014hasn\u2019t even batted in any of the team\u2019s matches yet, emphasizing how much batting impact RCB are still carrying as an option. Kohli\u2019s message was that this isn\u2019t merely a lineup with talent; it\u2019s a batting group that is explosive by design. \u201cIt looks pretty intimidating if I were in the opposition as well,\u201d he said, explaining how the threat remains even when the team loses wickets. He added that even when RCB are five down, Romario and Tim can still walk in and potentially swing the game quickly\u2014capable, in Kohli\u2019s words, of producing around 50 runs in four overs\u2014giving everyone else more room to play their shots without overthinking the situation.<\/p>\n
While RCB\u2019s batting strength is obvious, Kohli cautioned that the team\u2019s approach can\u2019t be one-size-fits-all. He acknowledged that not every contest will produce a 230 or 240 kind of scoreboard, and emphasized that adaptability is the real challenge as the tournament moves forward. \u201cWell, it depends on the situation and the conditions as well. Not all games are going to be 230 or 240,\u201d Kohli said. He added that the league has evolved, with modern cricket demanding different decisions and execution, but he insisted that teams must still keep a close watch on match conditions and how players respond under pressure.<\/p>\n
Kohli also suggested that the pressure will rise as the tournament progresses. With RCB still in the first half of IPL 2026, he said the dynamics will change from the second half onwards, when matches become tighter and every mistake is punished more quickly. In that phase, he argued, it\u2019s not just about having power in the batting order\u2014it\u2019s about applying cricketing intelligence when momentum shifts and when the freedom to attack disappears. \u201cTeams that can apply that and adapt according to the conditions and the situation are the ones that will go a long way,\u201d Kohli said.<\/p>\n
As for his own development within the team\u2019s evolving roles, Kohli suggested he is still refining his adaptation. He said the early stretch has not always looked like his best cricket\u2014pointing to the last two games in particular\u2014but maintained that his focus remains on raising his standard. \u201cBut yeah, the game has certainly changed,\u201d he said. \u201cAs I said, I\u2019m trying my best. I think I\u2019ve done okay so far in adapting. Early on\u2014the last two games\u2014I haven\u2019t been at my best, but I\u2019m always looking to push the bar.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Royal Challengers Bengaluru\u2019s batting order looks built to overwhelm opponents from the very first ball. At the top, Virat Kohli leads the charge alongside Phil…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":2988,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"IPL 2026: Virat Kohli\u2019s RCB Batting Depth Plan","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"IPL 2026: Virat Kohli explains how RCB\u2019s deep batting lineup targets bowler pace\u2014keeping pressure constant and turning powerplay starts into wins.","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2989","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ipl"],"yoast_head":"\n