Kohli Credits Form For Winning Knock, Blows Kiss To Anushka

BENGALURU– Talismanic batter Virat Kohli credited his recent ODI form for helping him maintain rhythm and momentum as he returned to T20 cricket with an unbeaten 69, guiding Royal Challengers Bengaluru to an emphatic six-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2026 opener at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

After sealing the victory, Kohli turned towards the stands and blew a flying kiss to his wife Anushka Sharma, who was present along with Indian senior women’s team players, including RCB women’s team captain Smriti Mandhana. The crowd responded with loud cheers, adding a personal touch to the memorable night.

“It’s good to get back out there. You mentioned T20 cricket, the last game I played was the final last year, but I think the way I batted in the one-day series quite recently really helped me to stay in that same kind of momentum. I wasn’t playing shots that I don’t usually play.

“So I knew as long as I have the rhythm, and I’ve put enough work physically behind the scenes with my fitness, things should come together nicely. Tonight was another chance to start strong and build on this,” said Kohli to broadcasters after the match.

Kohli also registered his 64th IPL fifty and became the first batter in IPL history to cross 4000 runs in chases.

Reflecting on managing workload after years of international cricket, Kohli added, “The kind of scheduling that we’ve had over the last 15 years and the amount of cricket I’ve played, for me, there was always a risk of getting burnt out rather than being undercooked. So these breaks help me mentally. I stay fresh and excited.

“Whenever I come back to play, it’s 120 percent. I’m not coming back underprepared. In fact, the extra rest helps me mentally freshen up. As long as you’re physically fit and mentally excited, both those things come together nicely. Then you’re able to contribute to the team’s cause, and that’s what you want to do as a player.” (IANS)