Virat Kohli's explosive batting fuels RCB's IPL 2026 title repeats

Virat Kohli hit 75* in 42 balls as RCB won their second straight IPL title in 2026 with a strike rate of 165.85.

Kohli's batting transformation Virat Kohli ended IPL 2026 with a strike rate of 165.85, bettered only by six other batters who scored over 500 runs this season. His current approach contrasts sharply with 2016, when he scored 973 runs at 152.03 strike rate—the only other time his season strike rate exceeded 150. In 2026, Kohli aimed for boundaries on 47% of powerplay deliveries and 46% of all balls faced, nearly every other ball. This aggressive mindset marks a clear shift in his T20 strategy. ## Moody attributes Kohli's freedom Tom Moody described Kohli's 2026 season as a shift from performing 'as a business' to simply 'having fun' while batting. Moody noted that Kohli's brilliance and class allowed him to relax and play freely, which boosted his strike rate and boundary-hitting. 'The thing that stands out for me about Kohli this year is that he's batting and having fun,' Moody said after Kohli's 75* powered RCB to their second title in two years. 'I just see someone just letting everything go and having fun, and because of his brilliance and class that's just increasing everything: the boundaries, his strike rate - it's all there because he's got the complete game.' ## Aaron credits RCB's middle order Varun Aaron argued that Kohli's freedom stems from RCB's strengthened middle order in 2026. Aaron pointed to Rajat Patidar and Devdutt Padikkal in the top-middle, Tim David and Krunal Pandya in the middle order, and impact players like Phil Salt and Venkatesh Iyer as key reasons Kohli feels less pressure. 'There's a reason he's having more fun because he has a middle order that he can rely on,' Aaron said. 'Now he knows that even if he gets out [there are others].' ## Kohli's reduced burden explained Aaron also highlighted that Kohli's false-shot percentage stood at 24.82% in 2026, higher than all but two of his last ten seasons. Despite the risk, Kohli's trust in his middle order allows him to play aggressively. 'Most of the big players, if they have batsmen behind them, they just know they can unleash their best on the bowling attack,' Aaron explained. Kohli’s comfort with his supporting cast has visibly reduced his batting burden this season. ## Kohli's own take on modern demands Kohli attributed his improved efficiency to the evolving demands of modern T20 cricket, where teams need to score 20-30 extra runs per innings. He retained his classic virtues while adding 'high efficiency,' according to Ambati Rayudu. Rayudu observed that Kohli now plays with greater intent immediately after hitting a boundary, a stark contrast to his earlier approach. 'He has formed a completely new instinct in terms of his T20 batting,' Rayudu said. 'He doesn't want to really plan too far ahead. He's looking at the next delivery, the next delivery, and how we can maximise it.' ## Kohli's evolution praised by Moody Moody praised Kohli for evolving with the game, adapting to the impact player rule and improving his strike rate. Kohli overcame past criticisms about playing reserved cricket and struggled against spin outside powerplay, proving his critics wrong in both areas. 'He's just grown and grown and grown,' Moody said. 'He's now just playing it for fun. You could see the joy in what he does out there - there's less tension around what he just goes out there, and it's just a day at the office.'