Virat Kohli has cemented his status as a true luminary of the cricketing world, earning the moniker “Grand Master” following his stellar performance in Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) six-wicket triumph over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. The seasoned campaigner delivered an unbeaten half-century at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday, March 28, steering his team towards a commanding victory.
RCB successfully chased down a challenging target of 202 runs in just 15.4 overs. Kohli’s masterclass saw him amass 69 runs from a mere 38 deliveries, a knock punctuated by an impressive five boundaries and an equal number of sixes, showcasing his destructive prowess.
The Kohli Effect: Empowering the Middle Order
Former Indian paceman Zaheer Khan lauded Kohli’s remarkable consistency, highlighting its profound impact on the batting lineup. Khan explained that Kohli’s anchoring presence at the crease allows his teammates to play with uninhibited aggression and intent. The assurance of having a player of Kohli’s calibre at the other end empowers the other RCB batters to take risks, knowing that he will invariably steady the ship and contribute significantly to the chase.
“I think, and RCB and Virat will be happy for winning the game and batting through the chase,” Khan commented. “Kohli scored his runs at a strike rate of 180, while others batted at a 220-250 strike rate. It shows RCB’s batting strength. The players around him can bat with freedom because they know Virat will score a fifty at a good scoring rate. This allows the batters to attack freely.”
Khan further elaborated on the ripple effect of Kohli’s performance, pointing to the contributions of other players. “Devdutt Padikkal has shown his class. He didn’t let the momentum drop in the middle overs. It gives us the idea of the brand of cricket RCB are trying to play. Virat is a key player for RCB,” he concluded.
A Grand Master of the Chase
Murali Kartik, another former Indian international, echoed Zaheer Khan’s sentiments, emphasising the sheer difficulty of maintaining Kohli’s level of consistency, particularly when batting second in the high-octane environment of the IPL.
The statistics speak volumes about Kohli’s unparalleled ability in run chases. He has accumulated over 4000 runs in IPL history while batting second, a testament to his enduring class. In his last 33 IPL innings, Kohli has registered an astonishing 16 scores of fifty or more, a remarkable feat that underscores his reliability under pressure.
Kartik drew a compelling parallel between Kohli’s strategic approach to batting and the calculated moves of a chess Grand Master. He argued that, much like a chess player anticipating their opponent’s moves, Kohli possesses an innate ability to read the game and dictate its tempo, often thinking several steps ahead.
“Virat Kohli is a Grand Master in chasing,” Kartik stated. “He is leading the team to wins. He knows when to attack and when to defend. He has been doing it for years. Teams are planning against him, but they haven’t been successful. He is sharp, and they can’t control him.”
A Dominant Start to the Campaign
RCB’s commanding victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad marked a strong opening to their IPL 2026 campaign. The team demonstrated a comprehensive performance, dominating their opponents across all facets of the game, setting a positive tone for the season ahead. Kohli’s “Grand Master” innings was undoubtedly the cornerstone of this dominant display, showcasing his enduring influence and match-winning capabilities.
