New Delhi: Virat Kohli’s stunning return to form against Kolkata Knight Riders not only earned applause from fans but also brought heartfelt wishes from IPL great Dwayne Bravo.
After Kohli’s unbeaten 105 helped Royal Challengers Bangalore to a six-wicket win in Raipur, Bravo walked into the RCB dressing room to personally congratulate the former India captain.
In a video later shared by RCB on social media, the KKR mentor can be seen hugging Kohli and telling him: “Play as long as you can, the sport needs you.”
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The moment quickly went viral among cricket fans, with many praising the mutual respect between the two biggest names in T20 cricket.
Kohli came into the match under pressure after consecutive knocks but the veteran batsman responded in trademark fashion. He dominated the innings brilliantly by scoring a challenging 193 with an unbeaten 105 off 60 deliveries, hitting 11 fours and 3 sixes. He also shared a crucial 92-run stand with Devdutt Padikkal, whose 39 runs helped stabilize the chase behind the early wickets.
It was Kohli’s ninth century in IPL history and another reminder of his unparalleled consistency in chasing down the ball. His controlling approach ensured that RCB reached the target with 5 balls remaining and topped the IPL 2026 points table with a net run rate.
Earlier, KKR posted a competitive 192/4 on the back of an impressive 71 off Angkrish Raghuvanshi and a late performance from Rinku Singh, who remained unbeaten on 49 runs. Cameron Green also contributed 32 points in the midfield game.
Despite Kartik Tyagi’s three wickets, KKR could not stop Kohli from dominating the chase.
For Bravo, who has played many IPL matches with Kohli over the years, the admiration is palpable. His message summed up the feeling of many in world cricket – players like Kohli are rare and the game is better when they are around.
