The iconic Virat Kohli believed that periodic breaks from the game have helped him stay mentally fresh and avoid burnout, after stroking his 28th IPL half-century at the Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Saturday. His effort came in RCB's walk-in-the-park six-wicket win against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the lung opener. Kohli, who made a 38-ball-69 with five maximums and equal number of boundaries, showed that stepping away from the game at regular intervals has been crucial in maintaining peak performance despite playing his first T20 match since the IPL final last year. Asked if there is a chance of turning in under prepared since he hasn't played T20 cricket for 10 months, Kohli said: "Well, you know, 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 helped me immensely. I stay fresh, I stay excited." The 37-year-old stressed that he never .
Ishan Kishan, along with Heinrich Klaasen (31 runs off 22 balls), added 97 runs for the fourth wicket to help SRH put a challenging total on the board
Virat Kohli scripted history in the IPL 2026 opener by becoming the first batter to cross 4,000 runs in run chases in the tournament’s history.
The right-handed batter achieved this historic feat during the IPL 2026 opener between the defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
A stunning one-handed catch by Phil Salt to dismiss a rampaging Ishan Kishan proved to be a turning point as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) outclassed Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by six wickets.
IPL 2026 HIGHLIGHTS: Virat Kohli, with his brilliant unbeaten 69-run innings vs SRH, became the first batter to score 4000 runs while chasing in IPL
JioHotstar in India will stream the IPL 2026 match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad through its app and website
The 18 passing IPL summers have not affected Virat Kohli's "drive and hunger" to touch new heights as a sportsperson, and still remains on top of his game, reckoned Royal Challengers Bengaluru head coach Andy Flower here on Friday. Kohli was RCB's leading run-getter last year, scoring 657 runs when the franchise landed its maiden IPL trophy, and Flower did not see any reason for the master batter not doing an encore. "I've been watching really closely (Kohli batting at nets), he looks on top of his game, he looks super fit. I was watching him do shuttles the other day, he looks light on his feet, very fit, very lean, very hungry," said Flower in the pre-match press conference. "He's always been very hungry and determined and I think that mental and emotional space that he's in, where he's very comfortable with himself as a person, but he's also very hungry to drive himself as a professional sportsperson," he added. However, Kohli will be playing his first tournament since appearing
The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium returns to the IPL spotlight after nearly a year without hosting matches, and it is expected to stay true to its reputation as a batting paradise
As defending champions RCB host SRH, the focus extends beyond cricket, with the league's 19th edition starting under a sombre backdrop even as it promises two months of high-octane action.
Ishan Kishan, who led Jharkhand to their maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) in 2025, will be making his IPL captaincy debut against RCB in the IPL 2026 opening game
Rajat Patidar made his captaincy debut in IPL 2025, replacing Faf du Plessis, and in his very first season as IPL captain, he led his team to their maiden title
Citing estimates that franchises earn ₹400-500 crore annually, Mukund suggested that the current spending of around ₹100-120 crore on player salaries is disproportionately low.
Thushara's absence comes after he failed to clear a mandatory fitness test conducted by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC)
The BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that while the final is still scheduled for May 31, the full schedule for the playoffs will be released at a later date
A key phase in Abhinandan's development came during IPL 2024, when he served as a net bowler for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
Relive the top 5 iconic moments of Virat Kohli in Indian Premier League history! From his fiery on-field clash with Gautam Gambhir to his long-awaited IPL title triumph.
RCB have received a timely boost ahead of the IPL 2026 opener against SRH, with Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood officially joining the squad
RCB enter the new season on the back of a historic triumph, having secured their first-ever IPL title in 2025.
Nomura says United Spirits' plan for the IPL team could unlock a one-time payout for shareholders