Virat Kohli arrives in Bengaluru ahead of IPL 2026 as RCB eye title defence - Watch

Virat Kohli has arrived in Bengaluru well ahead of the upcoming IPL season, joining Royal Challengers Bengaluru as they gear up to defend their title.The star batter was central to RCB’s historic triumph last season, finishing with 657 runs at a strike rate of 144.71 and an impressive average of 54.75, including eight half-centuries.

His consistency at the top played a huge role in ending the franchise’s long wait for silverware.

RCB finally broke their 18-year title drought, with Rajat Patidar stepping up as a leader during the campaign. Having achieved that milestone, the focus now shifts to repeating the success in what promises to be a challenging title defence.Kohli had already retired from T20Is and Tests. With only ODIs and the IPL left, each appearance now carries added significance.

Even at 37, Kohli continues to perform at an elite level. His numbers from last season underline his enduring quality, as he remains one of the most complete batters in the format, capable of both anchoring and accelerating as needed.His recent ODI form further highlights his consistency. Against South Africa, Kohli registered scores of 135 off 120 balls, 102 off 93, and an unbeaten 65 off 45 in a three-match series.

He followed that up with 93 off 91 in the first ODI and 124 off 108 in the third against New Zealand.RCB will kick off their campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 28 at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.Kohli also enters the season as the IPL’s all-time leading run-scorer, having amassed 8,661 runs in 267 matches, including a record eight centuries.