The road to the IPL 2026 has already begun on an intense note for Royal Challengers Bengaluru and their very first training session has given fans plenty to talk about. At the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, the energy was high as star batter Virat Kohli led the squad with focus and determination, setting the tone for the season ahead.
One moment from the session quickly caught everyone’s attention. During a competitive exchange, experienced pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar delivered a near-perfect yorker that almost broke through Virat Kohli’s defence. The clip spread rapidly online, giving fans an early glimpse of the sharpness and competitiveness within the RCB camp.
Here is the video:
https://x.com/rushiii_12/status/2034526597861282178
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Coming into this season, RCB carries a completely different mindset. After years of waiting, they finally lifted their first IPL trophy in 2025 under the calm leadership of Rajat Patidar, defeating Punjab Kings in the final. That historic win has boosted confidence but it also brings the challenge of defending their title while maintaining last season’s momentum.
A big part of that plan revolves around Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Since joining the team, he has become a dependable bowler, especially in pressure situations at the end of innings. With 17 wickets in 14 matches last season, he proved his value, even though his economy rate of 9.29 shows there is still room to improve. His knack for taking crucial wickets makes him a key figure in RCB’s bowling attack.
Meanwhile, much of the spotlight remains on Virat Kohli. Despite playing fewer international T20 matches recently, he comes into the IPL 2026 in outstanding form. In his recent outings against South Africa and New Zealand, he scored 302 and 240 runs respectively, including three centuries in just six matches. More importantly, he has adapted his game, playing with greater aggression while maintaining consistency.
Virat Kohli was also central to RCB’s title-winning run last season, finishing as the team’s highest scorer with 657 runs at an impressive strike rate of 144.71. As the new season approaches, he is close to achieving major milestones, becoming the first player to reach 9,000 IPL runs and nearing 10,000 T20 runs for a single franchise.
