Impact sub Kohli shines as Bengaluru move top of IPL

Virat Kohli admitted he is still not operating at full
fitness after turning up as an Impact Player and delivering a crucial 49 off 34
balls to guide Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to a five-wicket victory over
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday.
It marked the first time in Kohli’s IPL career that he
was deployed as an Impact Substitute, having been left out of RCB’s starting XI
when they opted to bowl first. The veteran batter had also spent time off the
field in the previous match against Mumbai Indians, where he picked up a knee
issue that has since lingered, along with a brief spell of illness in recent
days.
Despite the discomfort, Kohli made an immediate impact
at the top of the chase of 147, racing to 34 off just 14 deliveries and setting
the tone for RCB’s strong start. His innings eventually tapered as the pitch
slowed considerably, but the platform he built proved decisive in a chase
completed with 29 balls to spare.
Speaking after receiving the Orange Cap for leading
the season’s run charts, Kohli acknowledged he was still working his way back
to full rhythm.
“I’m feeling better than the last game, but I’m not
100% yet,” he said. “My knee was sore last match and I’ve also been under the
weather for a few days. It’s about gradually getting back to my best.”
Kohli, who now leads the IPL 2026 run tally with 228
runs, said RCB had anticipated a tricky surface under hot and dry Bengaluru
conditions. He explained that the game plan was built around exploiting the
Powerplay before the wicket slowed down.
“It wasn’t the easiest pitch to play through the
innings,” he noted. “We knew if we didn’t capitalise early, it would get
tougher, and that’s exactly what happened.”
RCB’s approach up front, led by Kohli and Phil Salt,
ensured early control of the chase, even as conditions became more demanding
later on. Skipper Rajat Patidar continued his strong start to the season with a
brisk 27, while the finishing duties were calmly handled by Tim David and
Romario Shepherd.
Kohli also praised the flexibility within RCB’s
batting unit, pointing to the depth that allows aggressive intent throughout
the order.
“The way the squad is structured gives everyone the
freedom to play with intent,” he said. “There’s clarity in roles, and that
makes a big difference in T20 cricket.”
Earlier, RCB’s bowlers set up the win by restricting
LSG to 146 in 20 overs. Rasikh Salam starred with a four-wicket haul, while
Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood provided strong support with the new ball
and in the middle overs.
LSG captain Rishabh Pant briefly retired hurt after a
blow on the elbow but returned before falling cheaply, as Lucknow struggled to
build partnerships on a sluggish surface. Mitchell Marsh’s 40 was the only
notable contribution in an otherwise underwhelming batting effort.
With the win, defending champions RCB moved level on
points with Rajasthan Royals, continuing their strong early-season momentum
while underlining the growing influence of Kohli—even when not fully fit—at the
top of the order.
















