IPL2026 : RCB edge Closer to Playoffs as Virat Kohli Century Sinks Kolkata Knight Riders





Slow batting in a must-win clash left Kolkata Knight Riders staring at a difficult road to the playoffs once again. Riding high on four consecutive victories, Ajinkya Rahane’s side entered Wednesday’s contest against defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru with momentum on their side. KKR fought hard for most of the evening, but in the end, Virat Kohli’s magnificent century proved decisive as the Knights walked away empty-handed, further damaging their playoff hopes.

Persistent rain delayed the toss by nearly one-and-a-half hours, with the match eventually beginning at 8:45 PM in Raipur. KKR’s batting, however, never truly found fluency. Finn Allen started aggressively, smashing 18 runs off just eight balls before departing early. At the other end, skipper Ajinkya Rahane struggled to accelerate, scoring 19 from 13 deliveries. Cameron Green followed a similar approach, managing only two runs from his first five balls before eventually getting out for 32 off 24 deliveries.

Despite having wickets in hand, KKR could score only 51 runs in the final five overs. Angkrish Raghuvanshi played a fine knock of 71, while Rinku Singh remained unbeaten on 49 off 29 balls but could not produce the late assault KKR desperately needed. As a result, the Knights failed to cross the 200-run mark, and that sluggish finish ultimately tilted the match in RCB’s favour. Chasing 193 was challenging, but far from impossible for Bengaluru’s powerful batting lineup.

For much of the chase, both teams progressed at a similar pace. However, the match slipped away from KKR in the 16th over. Sunil Narine struck with a wicket, but by then the momentum had firmly shifted towards RCB.

The night belonged entirely to Virat Kohli. Even in the twilight phase of his career, his hunger for runs remains undiminished. Opening the innings, Kohli batted right till the end and once again underlined why he remains one of the IPL’s greatest performers. Already holding the record for the most IPL centuries, the RCB star strengthened his grip on that achievement with yet another masterful hundred.

Although Jacob Bethell fell early, Kohli stitched together a crucial 92-run partnership with Devdutt Padikkal (35)  to put RCB firmly in control. Interestingly, even after reaching his century, Kohli celebrated in typically composed fashion. Batting at a strike rate of 175, he all but secured Bengaluru’s place in the playoffs, while darkness deepened around the KKR camp.

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