Kohli, who had not reached a half-century in his four previous IPL matches and came into the game after two successive ducks, compiled 105 not out from 60 balls, hitting 11 fours and three sixes as RCB chased a target of 193. He celebrated his century in the penultimate over by modestly raising his bat to acknowledge the crowd and the dugout.

After receiving the Player of the Match award, Kohli explained that he kept his celebration minimal due to the importance of earning points. He stated, “Pressure is a privilege. Good pressure always makes you improve your game. You go a level up, you keep improving your game.” Kohli described how he managed his nerves by focusing on staying calm, playing risk-free cricket, finding gaps, and remaining present at the crease. He added that he values ​​consistency, enjoys batting deeply, and views competing at this level as an honor that builds character and fosters continuous improvement.

Chasing 193, RCB recovered after losing an early wicket, with Kohli anchoring the innings alongside Devdutt Padikkal, who contributed 39 runs. Kohli reached his ninth IPL century in the 19th over as RCB achieved the target with five balls to spare. Kartik Tyagi was the leading bowler for KKR, taking 3 wickets for 32 runs.

Earlier, KKR posted 192 for 4, with half-century contributions from Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Cameron Green. RCB bowlers Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, and Rasikh Salam Dar each took one wicket.

The win moved RCB to the top of the IPL 2026 points table with 16 points from 12 matches. The team has two league matches remaining and will next face Punjab Kings in Dharamsala.

Following the victory, RCB captain Rajat Patidar expressed satisfaction with the win and praised the team’s contributions at various stages. He highlighted the bowling performance that effectively restricted KKR after a strong start. On Kohli’s performance, Patidar remarked, “I don’t have words, but he is used to doing great things.” He added that the team aims to maintain their form in the remaining games and expects Phil Salt, who has missed six matches due to injury, to return soon.

“It feels great. You play well in the tournament and everyone came in the different stage and doing their job for the team. We are taking it one game and one step at a time. Very satisfied. After ten overs, the way we controlled their innings… to restrict them (for 192 after their start) is a good sign for us,” Patidar said during the post-match presentations. “We have played good cricket. Two more league games, one game at a time. We are traveling to Dharamsala – good track to bat, and we will try to win. I don’t know but [Phil Salt] will come soon,” he added.