Kohli's unbeaten 105 silences doubters, steers RCB past KKR in IPL 2026
Synopsis
Virat Kohli answered every 'Gen Next' headline with an unbeaten 105 that took RCB to the top of the IPL 2026 table. Sunil Gavaskar's verdict was blunt: the old generation is still the best. With nine IPL hundreds and a chase built to perfection in Raipur, Kohli made a dropped catch by Rovman Powell the most expensive missed opportunity of the season so far.
Key Takeaways
Virat Kohli scored an unbeaten 105 off 60 balls against KKR in IPL 2026 at Raipur on 14 May .
RCB chased down 193 with five balls to spare , winning by six wickets and returning to the top of the points table.
The century is Kohli's ninth in IPL history and 10th overall in T20 cricket , placing him third all-time behind Chris Gayle and Babar Azam .
Kohli is the fastest batter to 14,000 T20 runs and moved to third in the Orange Cap standings.
A dropped catch by Rovman Powell early in Kohli's innings proved decisive, according to Sunil Gavaskar .
Kohli stitched a 92-run stand with Devdutt Padikkal as the backbone of the chase.
Virat Kohli delivered a masterclass under pressure, striking an unbeaten 105 off 60 balls against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to power Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to a six-wicket victory in their IPL 2026 clash at Raipur on 14 May. The innings — his ninth IPL hundred and 10th in T20 cricket overall — guided RCB to a successful chase of 193 with five balls to spare, lifting the side back to the top of the IPL 2026 points table.
Gavaskar's Verdict on Kohli
India batting legend Sunil Gavaskar, speaking to JioStar, was unequivocal in his praise. 'Virat Kohli was absolutely outstanding against KKR. He knows how to construct a chase better than most. When it comes to T20 centuries, he is third on the list with 10, behind Chris Gayle and Babar Azam. But he is the fastest to 14,000 T20 runs and has nine IPL hundreds. Records are there to be broken, but it will take a very long time for anyone to match what Kohli keeps delivering, game after game, season after season,' Gavaskar said.
Gavaskar also took aim at the prevailing narrative of a 'Gen Next' IPL season. 'While everyone was talking about this being the season of Gen Next, Kohli showed he is still around. He silenced the doubters with a century and moved to third in the Orange Cap race. He proved that the old generation is still the best. Even though the young stars are taking centre stage, the experienced greats are not done yet. This hundred from Virat Kohli was one of those special moments that remind us of his greatness,' he added.
How the Innings Unfolded
After the early dismissal of Jacob Bethell, Kohli steadied the chase with characteristic control before gradually accelerating. He stitched a crucial 92-run partnership with Devdutt Padikkal, reaching his fifty in 32 deliveries before shifting gears in the latter half. He brought up his century in the 19th over to a thunderous reception from the Raipur crowd.
The Drop That Decided the Match
Gavaskar also highlighted a pivotal moment — a dropped catch by Rovman Powell when Kohli was still early in his innings. 'Before this RCB-KKR game, KKR's efficiency with catches was still the best in the IPL this season. But this one hurt badly. Rovman Powell, who has taken some stunning catches this season, was fielding inside the 30-yard circle. He had the chance to dismiss Virat Kohli early. He went up high, timed his jump well, but the ball slipped out,' Gavaskar said.
'You cannot drop Kohli early in his innings. He will make you pay every single time. LSG learned that lesson the hard way. Give him an early lifeline, and he grabs it with both hands. He scored a hundred and made KKR regret that drop. That is what great players do. They don't give you a second chance. They punish your mistakes and turn the game on its head,' Gavaskar stated.
Where Kohli Stands in the Record Books
With this century, Kohli remains the fastest batter to 14,000 T20 runs and holds nine IPL hundreds — a record in the tournament. His 10 T20 centuries place him third all-time, behind only Gayle and Azam. The knock also moved him to third in the IPL 2026 Orange Cap standings, underlining his continued relevance at the top of the batting order despite being among the senior figures in the league.
With RCB back at the summit of the points table, all eyes will be on whether Kohli can sustain this form deep into the tournament.
Point of View
A dropped catch that could have ended it early, and a partner in Padikkal who needed steadying. Kohli delivered on all three counts. Gavaskar's framing of 'old generation vs new' is partly sentimental, but the underlying point holds: experience in a chase situation is a distinct skill, and no active T20 batter has demonstrated it more consistently. The real question for the remainder of IPL 2026 is whether RCB's bowling can match Kohli's batting reliability — without that balance, even a century-a-game Kohli may not be enough.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Virat Kohli score against KKR in IPL 2026?
Kohli scored an unbeaten 105 off 60 balls against Kolkata Knight Riders in Raipur on 14 May, guiding RCB to a six-wicket victory while chasing 193. It is his ninth IPL hundred and 10th in T20 cricket overall.
What did Sunil Gavaskar say about Kohli's innings?
Speaking to JioStar, Gavaskar called Kohli 'absolutely outstanding' and said the knock proved 'the old generation is still the best.' He also noted that dropping Kohli early in his innings is something opponents 'cannot' afford to do.
How does Kohli rank among T20 century-scorers?
With 10 T20 centuries, Kohli is third on the all-time list, behind Chris Gayle and Babar Azam. He also holds the record as the fastest batter to 14,000 T20 runs and has scored nine centuries in IPL alone.
What was the turning point in the RCB vs KKR match?
Gavaskar identified Rovman Powell's dropped catch — when Kohli was still early in his innings — as the decisive moment. KKR had the best catching efficiency in IPL 2026 before the match, making the miss all the more costly.
Where does RCB stand in IPL 2026 after this win?
The six-wicket victory over KKR lifted RCB back to the top of the IPL 2026 points table. Kohli's century also moved him to third in the Orange Cap standings.
