Virat Kohli does what he does the best during Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) versus Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on April 15. Despite battling a sore knee and physical illness, Kohli anchored the chase with a brilliant 49 off 34 balls at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. His ability to calculate the chase and attack at the right moments allowed RCB to reach their target in just 15.1 overs with five wickets to spare.
Virat Kohli shines in RCB's win over LSG
The victory was a collective effort, as quickfire cameos from Captain Rajat Patidar (27 off 13) and Jitesh Sharma (23 off 9) complemented Kohli’s brilliance. This win propelled the defending champions to the top of the IPL 2026 points table, securing eight points with four wins from their first five matches.
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Following the match, Kohli praised the squad's smart cricket in a celebratory video shared by the franchise. He highlighted the team’s composure, noting that even after the early loss of Phil Salt, the batting unit remained positive. By staying aggressive, players like Patidar and Sharma ensured the Lucknow bowlers never had an opportunity to claw their way back into the contest.
“Guys, another good win for us. I think we were quite professional with the back, a conscious effort to try and take the game away from the opposition early on. In small periods of pressure, we chose the right shots, put the pressure right back on the opposition, and we just stayed ahead of the game at all times,” Kohli said in the video.
Watch the video here:
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I don't like seeing collapses: Virat Kohli
Despite the win, RCB icon expressed some dissatisfaction regarding the team's minor batting collapse during the chase. He noted that the middle order faltered slightly, though he maintained a lighthearted atmosphere in the dressing room. He even took the opportunity to tease Romario Shepherd, who finished unbeaten with 14 runs off 8 balls, jokingly congratulating him for finally getting a chance to spend some time at the crease.
In the same spirit of camaraderie, Kohli shared a laugh at Krunal Pandya’s expense. He pointed out that Krunal didn't get an opportunity to contribute with the bat during the match against LSG, adding a playful remark about hoping to see him get a hit in their next outing.
“From a personal perspective and also from a batting group perspective, I think I would have liked to see us finish with 2 or 3 down. I don't like seeing collapses, but bloody well done, and good to see Sheppy finally get some time with the back and finish the game off. KP is the only one left now, so everyone gets some game time, and then we'll probably see a celebration next time,” he added.