Virat Kohli nerves fuel record IPL century in 2026 thriller

Virat Kohli delivered an unbeaten 105 to guide RCB to top of the IPL points table in 2026 after battling nerves.

Kohli jokes after duck Virat Kohli still found humor in his second successive duck in IPL 2026, jokingly thanking Andy Flower for 'giving me some work' when asked to speak after Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s final-ball win over Mumbai Indians a few nights earlier. Only once before had Kohli suffered back-to-back ducks in the league, during a challenging stretch in 2022 when every innings felt weighed down by the absence of a century. That drought stretched across 1020 days before finally ending. ## Pressure fuels focus Even in a season where he wasn’t leading the Orange Cap race, Virat Kohli felt the weight of expectation before facing Kolkata Knight Riders on Wednesday night. His unbeaten 105 powered RCB to the top of the points table and marked his ninth IPL century, securing his record 21st Player of the Match award. 'Well, there's a reason why people say pressure is a privilege,' Kohli said after RCB’s eighth win of the season. 'It actually keeps you humble, keeps you focused, makes you work hard at practice again. You can't take things for granted.' ## Nerves and intensity Kohli described the 'butterflies in the stomach' as beneficial, emphasizing that good pressure helps improve his game. 'So I was in the nets working harder, training harder,' he explained. 'When you're playing well, you can tend to kind of taper off a little bit with your intensity and focus. But I think a couple of games that don't go your way, you start feeling a bit of nervousness again. It helps you to go out there and work on your game and back yourself even more, which takes a lot of effort out of you.' ## Century with authority Virat Kohli celebrated his first run against Kolkata Knight Riders with a fist pump and a yell in Raipur, shifting from his usual metronomic run-scoring to a more aggressive approach that has paid dividends since late 2024. He showcased his full range of shots, with the nonchalant flick and the powerful back-foot punch over cover standing out. As boundaries flowed, emotions spilled over; the fist pump after his first run reflected relief, while the bicep-point towards the dugout after hammering Cameron Green in front of square exuded confidence. ## Crowd treated to spectacle Fans braved thunderstorms merely to watch Virat Kohli bat, with many content simply watching him bowl exaggerated inswingers in warm-ups and enjoying his playful demeanor. Instead, he delivered a full batting masterclass. Kohli became the first Indian to score 10 T20 centuries and the fastest ever to reach 14000 runs. The crowd’s chants of 'Kohli, Kohli' grew louder as the game progressed. ## Shot selection and technique Kohli spoke about the pleasing aspects of his innings, focusing on his positioning at the crease. 'Just my positions at the crease, you know,' he said. 'Not trying to do anything extravagant, just backing my game, hitting a lot of fours, hitting gaps, being clear as to where I wanted to hit sixes, which length I wanted to hit sixes from, and just staying in the game, like running a lot of twos, hitting the boundaries where needed, picking length, hitting the gaps that I know I can hit.' ## KKR resistance crushed When Devdutt Padikkal and Rajat Patidar fell early, Kolkata Knight Riders sensed a brief opportunity as RCB needed 60 off 36. However, Kohli quickly dismissed Vaibhav Arora with a vengeance, his wrists snapping in sync as he sent the ball soaring past long-on. The next ball brought another boundary, restoring order to the chase. His control peaked with a lofted hit off Anukul Roy, a left-arm spinner, where he still made clean contact despite not fully reaching the pitch, sending the ball on a destined trajectory. ## Late flourish and celebration As the final three overs approached, the chants of 'Kohli, Kohli' intensified, and he responded with a shot for the archives. Kartik Tyagi bowled full and angled into the stumps, but Kohli shuffled into position and whipped the ball over midwicket with extraordinary wrists that defy both geometry and age. The timing was so pure it barely seemed touched, yet still cleared the boundary. He paused to admire the arc longer than before. As he neared his century, he indulged in playful dance moves to the DJ’s beats before a simple wave to the dugout upon reaching three figures. ## Century’s deeper meaning Kohli downplayed his celebration, emphasizing the importance of the points. 'Well, the celebration wasn't a big one because we know the importance of the points right now,' he said. 'Look, for me, it's a conscious effort to try and contribute to the team's scores. And I know if I bat for long enough in the game, our chances of winning become higher. So the fact that I didn't get many runs in the last two games was, it eats me up in a way that I know I can play well and I'm hitting the ball well.' ## RCB reclaim top spot The innings was more than a statistical milestone; it was an authoritative display of control and dominance, exactly the kind Kohli thrives upon. RCB moved to the top of the points table after the win. The century reaffirmed that his nervous energy and competitive fire remain undiminished, driving him back to training with renewed intensity following any setback. ## Love for the game Kohli shared his philosophy on pressure and performance. 'I just give my heart and soul out there on the field, whether I'm fielding or batting, because it's going to finish one day,' he said. 'And I want to make the most of every day that I'm on the field and just enjoy myself and have a lot of fun and look forward to a pressure situation, look forward to scenarios where I'm feeling a bit of heat.' ## Teammate’s confidence in Kohli Krunal Pandya summed up the team’s faith in Kohli after RCB’s previous game, when asked about concerns following his pair of ducks. Krunal smiled and said, 'If he doesn't score runs in two games, I get very excited.' The remark drew laughter at the time, but it underscored a deeper truth: 'There is incredible hunger in Virat Kohli. He's a different beast. There is never any tension about Virat Kohli. I'm pretty sure he will again do Virat Kohli things. There is no doubt about it.'