Virat Kohli’s fitness for the remainder of the IPL 2026 has become a major talking point after he failed to take the field during the second innings of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) clash against Mumbai Indians (MI). This unexpected absence, triggered by an ankle injury, immediately sparked widespread speculation regarding his fitness and his availability for RCB upcoming fixtures.
Virat Kohli's ankle injury, a big headache for RCB
The match at Wankhede Stadium proved to be a difficult outing for two of India's most iconic veterans. While Kohli managed to push through his discomfort to bat, he struggled to maintain his usual aggressive tempo. Conversely, former Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma was forced to abandon his innings prematurely after a promising start. A hamstring injury severely compromised Rohit's footwork, and he is now awaiting the results of medical scans to determine the extent of the damage.
For RCB, these fitness concerns come at a pivotal moment in their campaign. The team enjoyed a stellar start to the season, securing victories in their first two matches at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. However, their momentum was halted by a significant defeat to the Rajasthan Royals during their first away game. While Kohli managed to record his second half-century of the season against Mumbai, his uncharacteristically low strike rate away from home has raised questions, especially given his explosive form at the Chinnaswamy earlier this month.
RCB's social media post on Kohli instills hopes in fans
Despite the injury that kept him on the bench during Mumbai's run chase, there are encouraging signs for the Bangalore franchise. Kohli was recently spotted back in the nets as the team prepares for their high-stakes encounter with the Lucknow Super Giants. Although his left leg was visibly strapped, his return to training suggests he is determined to lead the line for RCB despite the physical setback.
Virat Kohli continues to be a dominant force in his 19th Indian Premier League season, demonstrating remarkable precision and intent. Throughout his first four matches, the veteran batter has amassed 179 runs at an impressive average of 59.67. Aside from a slight dip in tempo during his recent outing against the Mumbai Indians, Kohli has maintained a high-octane strike rate of 162.73, punctuated by two vital half-centuries. Currently sitting in sixth place on the Orange Cap leaderboard, Kohli is well-positioned to climb the rankings in the upcoming clash against the Lucknow Super Giants. With a strong performance, he could realistically leapfrog top-tier run-scorers such as Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ishan Kishan, and even his own teammate and captain, Rajat Patidar.