Virat Kohli is one of the most influential cricket players, known for his consistency, passion and leadership on the field. His presence often boosts team confidence, making even a brief absence noticeable and concerning for fans and teammates alike.
That concern surfaced during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s thrilling win over Mumbai Indians at Wankhede Stadium on Sunday. RCB returned to winning ways in a high-scoring match but the joy was slightly overshadowed when Virat Kohli did not take the field in the second half.
Virat Kohli had already made a strong impact, scoring a composed 50 off 38 balls, including five fours and one six. He was dismissed by Hardik Pandya in the 15th over and looked frustrated while walking back to the dressing room. During Mumbai’s chase, he remained inside, reportedly dealing with an ankle issue, while Jacob Bethell replaced him as a substitute fielder.
Despite this, RCB successfully defended their total of 240/4, restricting MI to 222/5 and sealing an 18-run victory, their third win in the IPL 2026.
After the match, Krunal Pandya shared a general update saying that he hasn’t talked to Physio till now but Virat Kohli’s condition did not seem serious and there is nothing to worry. Captain Rajat Patidar also indicated that Virat Kohli appeared fine for now.
So far, Virat Kohli has featured in all the four matches this season, scoring 179 runs at an impressive strike rate of 162.73, making him RCB’s second highest run-scorer.
With momentum back on their side after the earlier loss to Rajasthan Royals, RCB will next face Lucknow Super Giants at M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday, where all eyes will be on Virat Kohli’s fitness.
