Virat Kohli (Pic Credit: IPL) NEW DELHI: Virat Kohli produced another commanding performance with a 34-ball 49 to lead Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a comfortable five-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2026 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday. Chasing 147, RCB cruised home in 15.1 overs, with Kohli once again setting the tone at the top.Despite the match-winning knock, Kohli conspicuously admitted his physical condition. “Much better than in the last match. I’m still not 100%. My knee hurt a bit in the last match. I’ve been under the weather for four or five days, too,” he said after the match, adding a sharp reflection on his current state: physically and rhythmically “he’s not even 10%” of where he wants to be.The former India captain, who was seen training with heavy straps on his left knee, hit six fours and a six in another fluent innings that took his tournament tally to 228 runs and entered the race for the Orange Cap.“The intensity was good, but I should have finished”Kohli said he was happy with his start but admitted he missed an opportunity to seal the chase on his own. “I started well today so I was happy with my intensity. Again I would like to go on and finish the game,” he said.He also noted the slowing down nature of the pitch. “Sometimes you have to take the conditions into account as well. The field slowed down a lot and I wanted to keep going the same way.”Kohli praised RCB captain Rajat Patidar for his clarity and aggression, calling him someone who assesses the “heart rate of the bowler rather than the situation”, highlighting the team’s fearless batting approach. Depth and adaptability RCB driving momentumKohli highlighted the flexibility of the RCB batting unit and credited the depth provided by the likes of Romario Shepherd and Tim David. “It looks scary when Romario and Tim come in even after five downs. Those guys can give you 50 runs in four overs,” he said.Looking ahead, Kohli emphasized adaptability as key in the second half of the season. “When the pressure is on, you have to use your game smarts. Whoever adapts best will go a long way.”
