Virat Kohli

Saba Karim backs Kohli but says Rohit has work to do for 2027 World Cup

Virat Kohli's fitness and hunger for runs have "completely convinced" the Indian selectors but former captain Rohit Sharma will have to prove his fitness and form if he has to be picked in the side for the 2027 ODI World Cup, says former cricketer and selector Saba Karim. Kohli and Rohit have both retired from the other formats and next year's 50-overs World Cup is being perceived as their final act before walking away from the only format they play for India. "I think Rohit has to do a lot of hard work. He has to work on his fitness levels and on his batting performance," Karim told PTI in an exclusive interaction. "I think selectors will be keenly watching Rohit's performance for the next six months to decide whether he can be part of the equation or not. (But) for Virat Kohli, I am sure that they are completely convinced that he will be a part of the 2027 World Cup set-up." " because through his performances and fitness level, (and) through his hunger for runs, he has shown all

Virat Kohli ruled out of IND vs AFG ODIs due to hamstring injury: Report

Kohli's absence is expected to reduce the spotlight on the Afghanistan series, given his enduring popularity among cricket fans across the world.

From Pant to Green: How top five most expensive players fared in IPL 2026

The fifth-most expensive player, Kohli, featured in all 16 of RCB's matches in IPL 2026 and amassed a brilliant 675 runs, including his match-winning knock of 75 not out against GT in the final

IPL 2026: Kohli proved technique and temperament still matter, says Sharma

Virat Kohli's childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma believes the batting great's IPL performance in the final was a timely reminder that technique and temperament remain as relevant as power-hitting in the shortest format. Kohli once again delivered on the biggest stage as Royal Challengers Bengaluru defended their IPL title with a five-wicket win over Gujarat Titans in the final in Ahmedabad on Sunday, extending his remarkable run of consistency in a format increasingly dominated by ultra-aggressive batting. Kohli struck an unbeaten 75 off 42 balls, including nine fours and three sixes, as RCB chased down GT's 155 for 8 in 18 overs. Calling his former ward's performance "excellent" and "brilliant", Sharma said Kohli's innings offered an important lesson for young cricketers. "That is a lesson for the youngsters to understand that it's not about power-hitting only, not about hitting sixes only. If you are good with the technique, you can always score big and that is what Virat showed tod

RCB defend IPL title as Kohli's blazing fifty seals five-wicket win over GT

Virat Kohli led the charge with the fastest half-century of his IPL career as RCB chased down a modest target of 156 in 18 overs to claim back-to-back trophies.

How has Virat Kohli fared with the bat in IPL finals over the years?

Having finally ended his long wait for an IPL title in 2025, Kohli now has the opportunity to add another chapter to his remarkable legacy by helping RCB secure back-to-back championships.

Collector's vault: Inside the booming market for bespoke souvenirs

A trading card, a match-worn jersey, a diamond chess set, the world of limited-edition souvenirs is a genre in itself, writes Ayushi Singh

IPL 2026: Virat Kohli adds a unique record to his name vs GT in Qualifier 1

Virat Kohli also holds the record for most runs in a single edition with his 973-run season in IPL 2016

IPL 2026: Why Kohli holds the key to RCB's success vs GT in Qualifier 1

Kohli has amassed 557 runs in 14 matches this season with the help of four half-centuries and one century and is RCB's highest run-scorer in IPL 2026

RCB qualify for the playoffs

RCB, with the help of Virat Kohli's 9th IPL ton, beat KKR to become the first team to qualify for IPL 2026 playoffs

IPL 2026: Virat Kohli set to become first player to achieve rare IPL feat

The veteran batter is just 58 runs away from registering his 4th consecutive IPL season with 600+ runs and moving ahead of legends like Chris Gayle, David Warner, and KL Rahul.

Virat Kohli confirms his desire to represent India in 2027 ODI World Cup

Kohli said his approach towards the game had remained unchanged despite spending years at the international level

IPL 2026: Kohli smashes 9th IPL hundred to take RCB to top of the table

Virat Kohli has added yet another landmark to his glittering career, becoming the first Indian cricketer to score 14,000 runs in T20 cricket.

IPL 2026: Virat Kohli becomes first batter to score 800 boundaries in IPL

Already in sublime touch coming into the match, Kohli elevated his legacy further with a landmark innings that added several historic records to his name.

IPL 2026: Kohli applauds Sooryavanshi for match winning knock vs RCB

For a young cricketer, a few words of praise from superstar Virat Kohli can feel like a standing ovation, and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi had his moment after yet another breathtaking performance in the IPL. The 15-year-old continues to carve a fearless reputation, taking on the best with remarkable ease. Fresh from unsettling Jasprit Bumrah, he went after Australian quick Josh Hazlewood, smashing a stunning 78 off just 26 balls to steer Rajasthan Royals to a comfortable six-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru here on Friday. After the match, Kohli signed the youngster's cap and left a simple but special message: "Dear Vaibhav, well done." The innings also propelled Sooryavanshi to the top of the run charts this season, earning him the Orange Cap. Rajasthan Royals stayed unbeaten with four wins in as many games, while the defending champions suffered their first loss of the campaign.

IPL 2026: SRH coach Vettori laments giving chances to Kohli, Devdutt

Sunrisers Hyderabad head coach Daniel Vettori labelled his side's bowling display against Royal Challengers Bengaluru as "poor", conceding they allowed Devdutt Padikkal and Virat Kohli far too many scoring opportunities in the IPL opener here. After raising 201 for 9 in the season-opener on Saturday, the Hyderabad side could not tackle the marauding Padikkal and Kohli, watching RCB romp home in just 15.4 overs. "You have to get a good start (with the ball), which we did against (Phil) Salt, but then I just think we weren't at our best with the ball. We weren't as disciplined as we needed to be, and we gave a lot of scoring opportunities to Virat and Padikkal, who played exceptionally well," Vettori said in the post-match press conference. "We should have been able to maintain a little bit more (discipline) after getting that important wicket of Salt. So, it was a very good batting performance by RCB and one of our poorer bowling performances," he added. Vettori said SRH had observ

IPL 2026: Kohli walks the talk, energy bizarre at this age, says Ashwin

All praise for Virat Kohli, former off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin says the Indian stalwart continues to "walk the talk" with his unmatched energy and intensity despite having retired from Test and T20I formats. Returning to T20 cricket for the first time since last year's IPL final on June 3, Kohli showed no signs of rust, smashing his 28th IPL half-century (69 not out off 38 balls) to power defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a commanding six-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2026 season-opener. "He walks the talk," Ashwin said on a JioHotstar show. "It's almost like he's putting on a show for people to see how the game should be played, play it hard and play it the way it's meant to be played. That stood out for me with respect to what Virat did." Kohli was already in sublime touch coming into the IPL, having scored 93, 23 and 124 in the ODI series against New Zealand in January, where he finished as India's leading run-getter. The 37-year-old had also .

Virat Kohli becomes first batter to cross 4,000 IPL runs in chases

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)

IPL 2026: Kohli at top of his game and hungry, says RCB coach Flower

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

IPL 2026: All eyes on Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium as carnival begins

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.