Kamal Ghorui
Virat Kohli (Video grabs)
NEW DELHI: Virat Kohli produced one of his most complete T20 knocks in recent memory on Wednesday, smashing an unbeaten 105 off 60 balls to guide Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a six-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2026. But alongside the century, it was Kohli’s animated conversation with Manish Pandey, caught on the stump mic, that stole attention online.During the chase of 193 in Raipur, Kohli appeared completely in rhythm after a lean patch that included two successive ducks. Between deliveries, he was heard joking with Pandey about trying unorthodox strokes.“Haan, abhi maarunga dekh,” Kohli said, signaling a ramp shot. He then added with a laugh, “Ab toh India ke liye thodi na khelna hai, ab toh har shot lagega,” drawing smiles from Pandey. The light-hearted exchange quickly went viral, with fans sharing clips of Kohli’s playful side in the middle of a high-pressure chase.WATCH:
Kohli’s century powers RCB to top spot
The RCB talisman looked in complete control throughout the innings, timing his acceleration perfectly. He reached his ninth IPL hundred and, in the process, became the first Indian batter to cross 14,000 runs in T20 cricket.Kohli brought up the landmark with his 78th run of the innings and also became the fastest player to 14,000 T20 runs, reaching the mark in 409 innings — breaking the previous record held by Chris Gayle.He now joins an elite list alongside Gayle, Kieron Pollard, Alex Hales, David Warner and Jos Buttler.A reunion and a reminderThe exchange between Kohli and Pandey carried extra nostalgia, with the pair having shared the dressing room during India’s 2008 U19 World Cup triumph. Pandey also had his own moment in the match, taking a stunning diving catch to dismiss Tim David late in the innings.But the night belonged to Kohli. After four games without a half-century, the RCB star delivered a statement knock, taking the defending champions back to the top of the table while pushing KKR closer to elimination.
