Virat Kohli's 81 powers RCB to highest successful chase in IPL 2026

Royal Challengers Bengaluru pulled off the highest successful chase of IPL 2026, gunning down Gujarat Titans' 205 with seven balls to spare at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. What looked like another RCB capitulation at 34 for 2 became a masterclass in controlled aggression, spearheaded by Virat Kohli's 81 off 44 balls.

The Kohli clinic

Down 34 for 2 in the fourth over, RCB needed 172 from 16 overs. Required rate 10.75. That is where lesser teams fold. That is where Kohli unfolds. The 35-year-old walked in with that familiar swagger and immediately began finding gaps that did not exist for others.

Kohli's partnership with Glenn Maxwell yielded 94 runs in 8.2 overs. The Australian contributed 31 off 18, but this was the Kohli show. Consecutive sixes off Rashid Khan in the 12th over — first a pull over deep mid-wicket, then a loft over long-on — shifted momentum permanently. Strike rate 184 through 44 balls. Economy rate against him: 11.7.

The turning point came in the 14th over bowled by Mohammed Shami. RCB needed 65 off 42 balls. Kohli carved successive boundaries through point and cover, then Maxwell clubbed a six over long-off. Seventeen runs off the over. Required rate down to 8.57. Game shifted.

Sudharsan's century deserved a winning cause. The left-hander crafted his maiden IPL hundred with 11 fours and 3 sixes, finding boundaries at will against RCB's fragile bowling attack. Strike rate 172 through his first 50 runs, then 160 for the next 50. Classic acceleration pattern for successful T20 centuries.

At 34 for 2 chasing 206, RCB were staring at their fifth loss in six games. Kohli turned it into their statement win.

— Ravi Krishnan

CM AI scorecard

CricketMind AI did not issue a pre-toss prediction for this fixture. Our model processes team data 90 minutes before toss, but technical maintenance delayed the RCB-GT analysis. We return with full coverage for the next round of matches.

What this means for the season

This win keeps RCB's playoff mathematics alive with four games remaining. They sit fifth on the table with eight points, two behind fourth-placed Punjab Kings. More importantly, it proves their batting order can fire under pressure. Kohli's return to form — this was his highest score since 2022 — coincides with Maxwell finding rhythm.

Gujarat Titans' loss hurts their net run rate and playoff positioning. Despite Sudharsan's brilliance, their bowling in the death overs leaked 47 runs in the final four overs. Economy rate 11.75 from overs 17-20. Championship teams do not concede at those rates when defending 205.

The chase also highlighted RCB's improved batting depth. After Kohli's dismissal in the 17th over, Dinesh Karthik (19 not out off 9) and Cameron Green (12 not out off 6) finished the job without drama. Required rate managed throughout.

Ravi Krishnan Fantasy Strategy Editor CricketMind AI