Desk Correspondent , Raipur - Wait! Virat Kohli and a run chase- a story that never seems to get tired of. With RCB needing a statement win, Kohli answered with a magnificent unbeaten 105 off 60 balls, guiding Royal Challengers Bengaluru past Kolkata Knight Riders by six wickets and make into top spot of the IPL 2026 table.

Kolkata Knight Riders put up a fighting total of 192/4 after Angkrish Raghuvanshi anchored the innings with a composed 71, while Rinku Singh’s unbeaten 49 provided the late flourish. Despite losing early wickets, KKR recovered well and looked set to test RCB in a high-pressure contest carrying major playoff implications. But the chase soon became another stage for Virat Kohli. Opening the innings, Kohli brought calmness and control from the very beginning, ensuring the asking rate never slipped out of reach for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. He found boundaries at crucial moments, rotated strike with ease and slowly took command of the contest.

KKR had their opportunities. Kohli was dropped early in the innings, and Devdutt  also survived a chance, moments that eventually shifted the game away from Kolkata. Kohli and Padikkal then stitched together a crucial partnership that kept RCB firmly ahead in the chase. As the pressure increased, Kohli only looked more assured. The former RCB captain accelerated in the final overs, brought up his record-extending ninth IPL century and remained unbeaten on 105 off 60 balls as Bengaluru sealed a six-wicket victory with three balls remaining. The win lifted RCB to the top of the IPL 2026 table, while KKR were left with their playoff hopes hanging by a thread.

For KKR, it was a night of missed chances and fading hopes. For Virat Kohli and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, it was another reminder that when the chase is alive and the pressure is highest, Kohli rarely lets the story end any other way.