Virat Kohli roars back in landmark clash to dent Kolkata's playoffs hopes badly

Brief Scores: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (1924 in 19.1 ovs) beat Kolkata Knight Riders (1924 in 20 ovs) by 6 wickets at Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, RaipurRCB vs KKR: HIGHLIGHTS | SCORECARDVirat Kohli could hardly have scripted a more memorable night for his landmark IPL appearance as he smashed a sparkling century to help Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) beat Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by six wickets in Raipur. The evening was already special for Kohli, who earlier became the most capped player in IPL history after going past the legendary MS Dhoni.As if that was not enough, Kohli added another glittering milestone by surpassing Chris Gayle to become the fastest batter to 14000 T20 runs before putting the seal on a dream night with a breathtaking 58-ball century.Kohli survived an early scare when Rovman Powell dropped him on 21, and the reprieve proved costly for KKR as the RCB talisman unleashed a sensational knock filled with authority and flair, powering his side to the top of the points table.For the Knight Riders, however, the defeat leaves them in a difficult spot heading into their final three league games. Ajinkya Rahane’s men had arrived on the back of four successive wins and looked to be gathering momentum at the perfect time, but Kohli’s brilliance has now left them needing something special to keep their playoff hopes alive.RAGHUVANSHI SHOULDERS KOLKATAAfter being asked to bat first following a delayed start caused by a wet outfield, the Knight Riders got off to a positive start. Finn Allen (17), fresh from his century against Delhi Capitals, looked dangerous once again as he took on fellow New Zealander Jacob Duffy early in the innings.However, Bhuvneshwar Kumar provided RCB with the breakthrough they desperately needed by dismissing the aggressive opener.Ajinkya Rahane also began fluently, scoring 19 runs before Josh Hazlewood cut short his stay at the crease.

Following Rahane’s dismissal, Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Cameron Green steadied the innings with an important 68-run partnership for the third wicket.The duo rotated strike well and kept the scoreboard moving during the middle overs. Just as they appeared ready to accelerate, Rasikh Salam Dar forced Green into a false shot. Green, who had begun to shift gears, departed after scoring 32.With Green back in the pavilion, Rinku Singh joined Raghuvanshi in the middle and the pair ensured that the Knight Riders finished at 192 for four. Raghuvanshi produced his best knock of the season, scoring a composed 71 off 46 deliveries, including seven fours and three sixes.

He reached his fifty in just 32 balls and played until the very end before being run out at the non-striker’s end in the final over while attempting a second run.RINKU KEEPS SHININGRinku, meanwhile, continued his impressive run of form with another impactful innings. He made sure RCB did not claw their way back into the contest after Green’s dismissal. Batting with confidence and composure, Rinku took charge in the death overs and consistently found boundaries at crucial moments.Interestingly, in the final over, he denied Raghuvanshi the strike immediately after smashing Bhuvneshwar Kumar for a six, backing himself to maximise the scoring opportunities. Rinku eventually remained unbeaten on 49 off 29 balls, an innings studded with three fours and two sixes.While he narrowly missed out on a half-century after Raghuvanshi failed to make his ground, his knock provided the finishing touches to KKR’s innings.More to follow...IPL 2026 | IPL Schedule | IPL Points Table | IPL Player Stats | Purple Cap | Orange Cap | IPL Videos | Cricket News | Live Score - EndsPublished By: sabyasachi chowdhuryPublished On: May 14, 2026 00:27 IST