NEW DELHI: Star batter Virat Kohli proved he’s still at the top of his game with a brilliant unbeaten 69 in IPL 2026, helping Royal Challengers Bengaluru chase down 202 against Sunrisers Hyderabad with ease.
His performance impressed many, especially Ambati Rayudu, who believes Kohli is far from retiring and still has plenty of cricket left in him.
Kohli looked in complete control during the chase, playing stylish shots including a lofted straight drive and his trademark flick for six. His innings led to strong reactions from former India batter Rayudu.
“I don’t think he is anywhere close to the end of his career. I think he still has five or six quality years left in him and, as Sanjay (Bangar) and I were discussing earlier, he should make a comeback in Test cricket as well – hopefully as a captain,” Rayudu told ESPNCricinfo.
“We are serious. He is the best red-ball captain I have seen in Indian cricket, and the way he is batting now, it is a loss for Indian cricket,” he added.
Kohli retired from Test cricket in 2025.
In the match, Hyderabad recovered from a poor start, thanks to Ishan Kishan’s quick 80 and support from Ankiet Verma, reaching 201/9.
In reply, Kohli led the charge, supported by Devdutt Padikkal and Rajat Patidar. Bengaluru chased the target in just 15.4 overs, the fastest 200+ chase in IPL history.
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Kohli also achieved a major milestone, becoming the first player to score over 4000 IPL runs in chases and moving past Shoaib Malik in T20 run charts, capping off a memorable night.
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