Bengaluru, March 18 (NationPress) The legendary Indian cricketer Virat Kohli has touched down in Bengaluru to reunite with the reigning champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) as they gear up for the 19th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), which is scheduled to kick off on March 28.

Kohli was instrumental in RCB's victorious campaign last season, amassing 657 runs with an impressive strike rate of 144.71 and a remarkable average of 54.75, which included eight half-centuries. The seasoned batsman aims to maintain this stellar performance as the team embarks on their journey to defend their title for the first time.

RCB released a video showcasing Virat's arrival on their social media platforms, featuring the former captain at the airport and in a cab, with a traffic signal displaying his jersey number 18 and the KGF theme playing in the background.

In their caption, RCB stated, "You don’t have to see him… to know he’s coming! Check the calendar. There will be signs."

Fans are buzzing with excitement; one user expressed on X, "The King Kohli has arrived in his kingdom." Another remarked, "The King has come to reclaim his throne once again, and we are all here to witness him dominate the competition. Coming on the 18th is just perfect!"

Another fan chimed in, "It's March 18 and jersey number 18 is here!" while one more enthusiast stated, "RCB isn’t complete without King Kohli."

Kohli stands as the highest run-scorer in IPL history, with a total of 8,661 runs from 267 matches at an average of 39.54. The 37-year-old holds the record for the most centuries (eight) and is also known for his 63 half-centuries. He has been with the same franchise since his debut in 2008.

Recently, the former captain shared a video from a practice session in London, showcasing his excellent form.

Meanwhile, the defending champions RCB are set to return to their home ground, M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, to face Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the IPL 2026 opener on March 28, following official approval from the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) to host the matches.

The schedule released by the BCCI for the first 20 matches of IPL 2026 indicates that RCB's next game will be against the five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Southern Derby in Bengaluru on April 5. They will continue with two more matches in the initial phase: against Rajasthan Royals on April 10 and Mumbai Indians on April 12, concluding Phase 1.

The match against Rajasthan will be in Guwahati, after which they will travel to the Wankhede stadium to face Mumbai.