Royal Challengers Bengaluru star Virat Kohli was seen training hard in the nets at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium ahead of the team’s first match of the 2026 Indian Premier League season. The defending champions will face SunRisers Hyderabad at home on Saturday, March 28.
Kohli looked in great form during practice. In a video shared on social media, he was seen hitting a brilliant straight six. He also showed an attacking mindset, playing several aggressive shots in the nets.
Here’s a glimpse of Kohli’s recent net session:
Virat Kohli in the nets… locked in 🔥👑 #RCB pic.twitter.com/60vuyaTnYg
— 𝑵𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝑲𝒊𝒏𝒈 🌨️ (@nightking7ngx) March 27, 2026
Virat Kohli batting clip from yesterday net session. pic.twitter.com/LNESG9h7uT
— Virat Kohli Fan Club (@Trend_VKohli) March 27, 2026
Meanwhile, Virat Kohli looked in great touch in RCB’s second practice match as well, scoring a quick 45 runs off just 19 balls.
He was also RCB’s top run-scorer in IPL 2025, making 657 runs in 15 innings at a strike rate of 144.71. He hit eight fifties and had an average of 54.75. Royal Challengers Bengaluru went on to win their first IPL title by defeating Punjab Kings by six runs in the final.
Virat Kohli helps his opening partner with throwdowns in RCB nets ahead of IPL 2026
It’s worth noting that Virat Kohli also tried his hand at bowling during one of RCB’s practice sessions. He gave a few throwdowns to his opening partner Phil Salt in the nets and even bowled a couple of bouncers to him.
Salt said during the practice session:
“I think it’s just a few points looking ahead. I think it was the first time that we’ve been out here as a group, or for me anyway. So it’s just a few points about going forward what are we going to do this year, what do we plan to do. Just taking it to the next level, so just planning for that. Always good to chat cricket with him (Virat Kohli). That goes without saying.”
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWRLaBAubDh/?igsh=MWxoMTU2eWZic2NwdA==
Virat Kohli and Phil Salt played a big role as an opening pair in RCB’s title-winning IPL 2025 season. Together, they scored 565 runs in 13 innings and had five partnerships of 50 or more runs. Salt was also RCB’s second-highest run-scorer that season, scoring 403 runs in 13 matches at a strike rate of 175.98.
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