Virat Kohli asserts Commitment for RCB after Winning Start: 'Whenever I Play, Its 120 Per Cent'

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Virat Kohli made a huge remark on his preparation after Royal Challengers Bengaluru's stunning win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2026 opener on Saturday (March 28).

Virat Kohli delivered a vintage unbeaten knock of 69 off 38 balls as defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) thrashed Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by 6 wickets.

RCB, led by captain Rajat Patidar, elected to bowl first after winning the toss. SRH posted a competitive 201/9 in 20 overs, riding on aggressive batting from their top order, though they lost wickets at regular intervals. Jacob Duffy emerged as the Player of the Match for his impactful bowling spell that restricted SRH.

In the chase, RCB got off to a fiery start on the batting-friendly Chinnaswamy pitch. Openers Phil Salt and Virat Kohli provided momentum, but early wickets kept the pressure on. Devdutt Padikkal then exploded with a rapid 61 off 26 balls, including some monstrous hits, forming a crucial partnership with Kohli. Rajat Patidar contributed a quick 31 off 12 to keep the scoring rate high.

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Kohli, the experienced anchor, played with his trademark mix of elegance and aggression. He rotated strike smartly, punished loose deliveries with crisp drives and pulls, and unleashed two big sixes off Harsh Dubey to accelerate. As the chase entered the death overs, Kohli took charge, finishing the match in style with a six followed by three consecutive boundaries off Harshal Patel in the 16th over. RCB reached the target of 203 in just 15.4 overs, winning with 26 balls to spare.

Whenever I play, its 120%: Virat Kohli

After the match, Kohli revealed his unadulterated love for the game and preparation for every tournament, depicting that he always prepares at the fullest.

"The kind of scheduling that we've had over the last 15 years and the amount of cricket I've played, for me, there was always a risk of getting burnt out rather than being undercooked. So these breaks help me mentally. I stay fresh, I stay excited. Whenever I come back to play, it's 120%. I'm not coming back underprepared. In fact, the extra rest helps me mentally freshen up," Kohli said after the match.

"As long as you're physically fit and mentally excited, both those things come together nicely. Then you're able to contribute to the team's cause, and that's what you want to do as a player. You don't want to just hold on to a spot; you want to keep performing and keep putting in the work for the team," he added.