Virat Kohli the veteran RCB opener attracted attention yet again during the IPL 2026 match against Chennai Super Kings. The short period he spent at the batting crease led to explosive moments which created vital events for the match.
Kohli plays quick but tricky innings
Kohli scored 28 runs from just 18 balls, hitting two fours and one six. The match showed him playing fast but he remained unsteady throughout the game. The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium pitch created difficulties because the ball failed to make proper contact with the bat.
The first part of his batting session brought Kohli an unexpected chance when Shivam Dube dropped an easy catch. Kohli had only scored 2 runs at that moment. He could not find scoring opportunities against Khaleel Ahmed whose powerplay bowling showed excellent control.
Kohli attacks Matt Henry
Kohli slowly adjusted to the pitch and found his rhythm when Matt Henry came into the attack. In the fourth over, Kohli played a strong shot for a no-look six that went deep into the stands.
The player achieved his strike rate increase through hitting a boundary along with running fast doubles. Kohli appeared to have returned to his top form which would enable him to produce a major innings for his team. Chennai Super Kings received their major victory through Anshul Kamboj who dismissed Kohli at a moment when he appeared to become a dangerous player. He dismissed Kohli and ended his innings at a crucial time.
The stadium crowd showed disappointment because they wanted the experienced batter to achieve a higher score. The brief batting performance provided RCB with a strong beginning.
Also Read | Virat Kohli reacts after Khaleel Ahmed sledging in RCB vs CSK IPL 2026
Kohli breaks big IPL record
Kohli reached a significant achievement during his batting session after he left the game early. He achieved the record through surpassing Rohit Sharma by scoring the highest runs against one specific team in IPL history.
Rohit held the record before this match through 1161 runs against Kolkata Knight Riders. Kohli needed just 16 runs to break that record, and he did it during this match. He currently holds the record for most runs against Chennai Super Kings with 1188 runs.
Most Runs against Opponents in IPL
- 1188 - Virat Kohli v CSK
- 1161 - Rohit Sharma v KKR
- 1159 - Virat Kohli v PBKS
- 1134 - David Warner v PBKS
- 1130 - Virat Kohli v DC
- 1093 - David Warner v KKR
Kohli has always performed well against Chennai Super Kings. He has played 36 matches which resulted in him scoring 1174 runs with an average exceeding 38. He has also scored 10 half-centuries against them.
He has yet to achieve his first century against CSK. The match presented him with a great opportunity to score big, but he could not transform his initial success into a major achievement.
Good start to the season
Kohli began IPL 2026 positively despite his dismissal. He has scored 97 runs in two innings so far. He opened the first match with an impressive performance scoring 69 runs.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru currently holds a strong match position with 250 runs at 3 wickets down after 20 overs. The team will now look to take early wickets and put some pressure on CSK.
