Kohli Century Anchors RCB Victory in IPL 2026
Virat Kohli scored an unbeaten 105 to guide Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a six-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders in Raipur on May 14. The innings ended a run of low scores and lifted RCB to the top of the points table. The result leaves the team with two league matches remaining before the playoffs.
Recovery After Early Setbacks
RCB lost an early wicket while chasing 193. Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal rebuilt the innings, with Padikkal scoring 39. Kohli reached his ninth IPL century in the 19th over, and the target was completed with five balls to spare.
Bowling Effort Limits KKR Total
KKR posted 192 for 4 after strong contributions from Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Cameron Green. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood and Rasikh Salam Dar each claimed one wicket for RCB. The bowlers restricted scoring after KKR’s opening partnership, a factor captain Rajat Patidar later highlighted in the post-match presentation.
Kohli’s Approach Under Pressure
Kohli described pressure as a privilege and said it forces improvement in preparation and decision-making. He focused on staying calm, playing low-risk shots, and using gaps rather than forcing boundaries. After receiving the Player of the Match award, he noted that earning points took priority over celebration.
Team Outlook and Next Fixtures
Rajat Patidar said the side had controlled the middle overs effectively and would continue taking matches one at a time. RCB travels to Dharamsala to face Punjab Kings. The return of Phil Salt, absent for six matches with injury, is expected before the final league games.
