RCB climb to IPL summit as Kohli anchors victory over KKR
Defending champions secure sixth-wicket win in Raipur to take top spot on points table
Royal Challengers Bengaluru have ascended to the summit of the Indian Premier League 2026 points table following a calculated six-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders in Raipur. Chasing a target of 193, the defending champions secured the win with five balls remaining, elevating their standing to 16 points from 12 matches and placing them firmly on the verge of a playoff berth.
The innings was anchored by Virat Kohli, who scored an unbeaten 105 off 60 balls. His approach was methodical rather than frantic, finding boundaries with ease while maintaining efficient running between the wickets. Kohli accelerated early, hitting three boundaries in the second over off medium-pacer Vaibhav Arora, setting a tone of controlled aggression that defined the chase.
Kohli found a crucial ally in Devdutt Padikkal, and the pair added 92 runs for the third wicket in 9.5 overs. This partnership effectively dismantled Kolkata Knight Riders' bowling attack, with left-right combination tactics making life difficult for the opposition. Padikkal was eventually dismissed by Kartik Tyagi when the score reached 129, but the foundation for victory had already been laid.
Following Padikkal’s departure, skipper Rajat Patidar added a further 29 runs alongside Kohli before being dismissed after hitting Sunil Narine for a six. Kohli then finished the game in solitary style, reaching his century in the 19th over off 58 balls. A notable flick shot off Tyagi in the 18th over, which took his score from 92 to 98, stood out as a highlight of the innings before RCB closed out the match in 19.1 overs.
Earlier, Kolkata Knight Riders had posted 192/4, driven by a composed 71 from Angkrish Raghuvanshi and an unbeaten 49 off 29 balls from Rinku Singh. The match, which began at 8:45 pm following a rain delay, saw no overs lost despite the interruption. While Raghuvanshi displayed maturity in rotating strike and punishing loose deliveries, and Singh provided late acceleration, their efforts ultimately proved insufficient against Kohli’s masterclass.
