The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have received the biggest boost as their biggest superstar, Virat Kohli, is looking more dangerous than ever in the team’s warm-up matches ahead of the IPL 2026, starting on March 28 in Bengaluru.
As Royal Challengers Bengaluru gear up to face Sunrisers Hyderabad in the opening match at home, Virat Kohli has already shown that he is in a full attacking mood in the new season.
The defending champions have played two intra-squad matches to test their combinations, and the former captain stole the show in both games. In the first practice match, the dashing right-handed batter smashed 29 runs from only 12 balls.
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Virat Kohli turns beast mode on before IPL 2026 kick-off
It was a short innings but filled with pure aggression, something fans have been wanting to see more often from him in modern T20 cricket. But the real fireworks came in the RCB’s second practice match. Kohli looked even more explosive and hammered 45 runs in just 19 balls.
The RCB icon’s strike rate in both matches was over 200, proving how much he has changed his style for the upcoming IPL 2026 and sending a clear warning to the rival teams. Kohli’s overall IPL strike rate is in the early 130s, but now he is playing almost like a young power-hitter.
With RCB entering IPL 2026 as defending champions, this new version of Kohli adds even more confidence to the camp. His form in these practice matches shows that he is pushing himself to break all limits and start the season with massive intent.
Dinesh Karthik stunned by Virat Kohli’s form ahead of IPL 2026
Meanwhile, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru mentor and batting coach Dinesh Karthik is thrilled with Kohli’s form ahead of IPL 2026. After watching Kohli bat in the practice match, Karthik felt the star batter looked sharp, confident, and in full control right from the start.
Dinesh Karthik said in the RCB video: “Good game today. The class of Virat came through quite nicely up front and played some lovely shots. The greatness about Virat is every year he comes up with a certain plan, a certain intent. He saw how he’s really upped what he wants to do.
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I feel this year he’ll try and get even better. That tells a lot about the person that he is. He’s always trying to push his boundaries. And also, what he brings in terms of energy to the crowd, to the meetings. Those are all big things, and that’s a big part of Virat’s personality as well.”
𝗣𝗘𝗔𝗞ohli gearing up for another banger of a season. 😮💨🔥
DK talks about prep, intent, and the energy Virat’s bringing this season on @bigbasket_com presents RCB Bold Diaries. 🙌#PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB #IPL2026 pic.twitter.com/NpToH0uOeq
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) March 25, 2026
Virat Kohli and his IPL legacy
Well, Kohli’s name is written all over the IPL record book. Apart from his famous record for the most runs in a single season, he has also the record of the most runs in IPL history, the most matches for one franchise, the most seasons for one franchise, the most hundreds, the most fifties, the most 50-plus scores, the most runs as a captain, and even the most catches by an outfielder to his name.
The list only keeps growing. Presently, Kohli is already the all-time leading run scorer in the IPL with 8661 runs. This season, the former Indian captain has a big chance to create another milestone by becoming the first player in IPL history to cross 9000 career runs.
