Virat Kohli’s record-breaking night against Kolkata Knight Riders was full of milestones, but it was his post-match words that really stood out. After smashing a match-winning century in Raipur, the RCB star admitted that he is no longer obsessed with records and instead just tries to enjoy every moment he has left in cricket.
Kohli led Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a six-wicket win over KKR with a sensational unbeaten 105 off 60 balls to help RCB climb back to the top of the IPL 2026 points table. The knock also saw him become the fastest batsman to 14,000 T20 runs, surpassing Chris Gayle, besides becoming the most limited-overs player in IPL history with his 279th appearance in the tournament. At the post-match presentation, Kohli reflected on how his relationship with the game has changed at this stage of his career.
RCB vs KKR: HIGHLIGHTS | SCORECARD
“Well, I just love batting, even after all that. That’s my basic feeling,” Kohli said after the win.
“What an honor to play at this level. What an honor to still compete with the best in the world. It’s all I’ve done all my life. Cricket is absolutely something I really love.”
The 37-year-old, who has already retired from T20Is and Test cricket, also admitted that the end of his playing career is no longer a distant thought. As talks continue to surround him potentially leading India’s charge to the 2027 ODI World Cup, Kohli admitted that he now approaches the game with much more gratitude than pressure around numbers or milestones.
“And on the field, I just give my heart and soul, whether I’m fielding or batting, because it’s going to end one day,” Kohli said.
“And I want to make the most of every day that I’m on the field and just enjoy myself and have a lot of fun and look forward to pressure situations.”
The century came at a crucial moment for Kohli personally as well.
RCB opener before KKR game entered Raipur under pressure after registering back-to-back ducks against Lucknow Super Giants and Mumbai Indians. Across those two innings, Kohli only faced three deliveries combined, which quickly became one of the biggest talking points surrounding RCB, despite the team still winning.
However, against KKR, Kohli responded in classic fashion.
He survived an early scare when Rovman Powell dropped him for 21, but in the end Kolkata paid dearly for the missed opportunity. Kohli reached his fifty in just 32 balls before taking complete control of the chase alongside Devdutt Padikkal, who helped maintain the tempo in the middle overs.
The RCB star eventually brought up his century with a single off Vaibhav Arora in the penultimate over before Jitesh Sharma sealed the chase in style.
HOW VIRAT KOHLI TURNED PRESSURE INTO A CENTURY
Kohli admitted after the match that the short lean patch actually helped him refocus for the KKR clash.
“When you look back, those failures are so important because they put you back in the place that gets you to perform in the first place and doesn’t allow you to be at your best,” Kohli said.
“So I think that’s why people say the pressure is a privilege. And of course I was nervous. I just wanted to get off the mark and just celebrate and have some fun out there.”
The celebration itself became one of the highlights of the night.
After making his first run of the innings, Kohli punched the air, laughed to himself and dived into a loud roar from the Raipur crowd after avoiding what would have been an unwanted hat-trick of ducks.
From there, the shift only got bigger.
Kohli’s unbeaten 105 not only ended the chatter surrounding his form but also reminded everyone why even at 37, he remains one of the defining players of the IPL.
RCB VS KKR: PLAYOFF RACE INTENSES
Defending champions RCB surged to the top of the IPL 2026 points table with a clinical run chase thanks to Kohli’s unbeaten century. Bengaluru have now moved to 16 points and are firmly pushing for a top-two finish heading into the business end of the season, although qualification is not yet mathematically sealed.
Meanwhile, KKR suffered a major setback in their bid to qualify despite posting a strong total of 192 for four after Angkrish Raghuvanshi scored a career-best 71 off 46 balls.
Their four-match winning streak ended in Raipur and their playoff hopes now hang in the balance. Even if Kolkata win all their remaining matches, they can only finish with 15 points, which may still not be enough depending on other results.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
May 14, 2026 01:48 IST
