Virat Kohli Hits 69*, Shares Flying Kiss With Anushka Sharma As RCB Dominates SRH

Virat Kohli stole the spotlight in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 opener on Saturday, guiding Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to a commanding victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) with a match-winning innings. Kohli scored an unbeaten 69 off 38 balls, hitting five fours and an equal number of sixes as RCB chased down a daunting target of 202 in just 15.4 overs.

The 37-year-old’s powerful knock kept RCB in control throughout the chase, culminating in a boundary that sealed the win. In a celebratory moment that quickly went viral on social media, Kohli shared a flying kiss with his wife, Bollywood actor Anushka Sharma, highlighting both his personal and professional highs of the evening.

Speaking after the match, Kohli reflected on his return to T20 cricket after a 10-month hiatus, emphasizing the importance of preparation and maintaining physical and mental freshness. “Whenever I come back to play, it’s 120%. I’m not coming back underprepared. In fact, the extra rest helps me mentally freshen up,” he said. Kohli noted that his focus remains on performance rather than simply holding a spot in the team.

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He credited his recent white-ball outings with helping him retain batting rhythm despite the gap from the shortest format. “It was good to get back out there… the way I batted in the one-day series recently really helped me stay in that momentum. As long as I had the rhythm and had put in enough physical work behind the scenes with my fitness, things came together nicely,” he said.

Kohli’s innings underlined his continued prowess as a chase specialist in T20 cricket, setting the tone for RCB’s campaign in IPL 2026. His seamless return also reassures fans and teammates of his readiness to contribute at the highest level, combining experience, skill, and leadership on the field.

With RCB starting the season with a commanding win and Kohli in such fine form, the team will look to build on this momentum as the tournament progresses, while supporters eagerly await more moments of brilliance from the batting stalwart.

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