Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) they continued their impressive run IPL 2026 with a clinical five-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. It was though the win pushed RCB to the top of the points table Virat Kohli‘s honest confession about the fitna after the match drew attention.
RCB’s bowlers set the tone early
RCB’s dominance began with a disciplined bowling performance that restricted LSG to a modest total of 147. The men in red took advantage of the situation to perfect their plans. Hello Rasikh emerged as a standout performer picking up four key wickets and demolishing the middle order. was well supported by Bhuvneshwar Kumarscalped three wickets with his trademark swing and control. Krunal Pandya made two important breakthroughs Josh Hazlewood kept the pressure from one end with tight lines.
A collective effort ensured that LSG never gained momentum, with wickets falling at regular intervals. RCB’s bowlers combined aggression with precision, making the chase more manageable.
Virat Kohli is leading the chase
Chasing 148, RCB approached the target with calm intent. At the heart of the chase was Kohli, who played a smooth innings of 49 runs and anchored the innings with his experience and composure. Support was found from Kohli Rajat Patidarwho contributed needed 27, and Jitesh Sharmawhich adds a rapid-fire 23 to maintain momentum immunity. The chase was never in doubt as RCB maintained control throughout the innings and eventually sealed the win with ease.
Even though Kohli fell short of his half-century, his innings played a decisive role in shaping the result. His ability to rotate the strike and find boundaries at key moments ensured that there were no hiccups in the chase.
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Kohli opens up about his fitness concerns
Despite winning the match, Kohli revealed that he is still dealing with fitness issues. Speaking after the game, the RCB stalwart admitted that he had struggled physically over the past few days.
He shared that his knee hurt in the previous match and that he has been feeling bad lately. However, he was happy with how he performed against LSG, especially his intensity and starting at the crease. Kohli also mentioned that while he was happy with his effort, he would have preferred to stay till the end and finish the game himself – highlighting his ever-present hunger for excellence.
“(How did I feel tonight?) It’s a lot better than the last game. I’m still not 100%. Last game, my knee was a little sore. Even health-wise, I’ve been under the weather for four or five days now. So I’m just doing my best. I started well today, so I’m happy with my intensity. I’d like to keep playing again.” Kohli said while talking to broadcasters after the game.
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