Concerns around Virat Kohli briefly overshadowed an otherwise dominant night for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The star batter did not take the field during the second innings against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium. Kohli, who had earlier played a key role with the bat, was seen sitting out with a jacket, sparking speculation about a possible injury.
RCB skipper Rajat Patidar, however, sought to ease concerns after the match, stating, “I do not know yet, but I feel he is okay right now.” His brief update will come as a relief for fans, especially with Kohli playing a crucial role in RCB’s batting line-up this season.
On the field, RCB delivered a statement performance, posting a formidable 240/4 after being put in to bat. Kohli, alongside Phil Salt, set the tone early with an aggressive start, putting Mumbai on the back foot from the outset. Patidar and others capitalised in the middle overs to ensure RCB maintained control throughout the innings.
Mumbai Indians fought back in the chase, largely thanks to a stunning unbeaten 71 off 31 balls from Sherfane Rutherford. His late assault, featuring a flurry of sixes, threatened to turn the game, but the target proved just out of reach as MI finished at 222/5.
Reflecting on the win, Patidar credited the team’s clarity in approach. “There is more clarity for every individual. The way Virat bhai and Salt started, it kept us in the driving seat. Then contributions from everyone made it a complete team effort,” he said.
He also spoke about the unique energy of playing at Wankhede. “Whenever we come here, the atmosphere, the fans, and a packed stadium, it is a different feeling altogether,” he added.
Despite his strong numbers against spin this season, Patidar revealed a personal preference for pace. “People say I enjoy spin, but honestly, I love playing pace. On this track, it felt really good to face fast bowling,” he noted.
With this win, RCB have bounced back strongly, driven by a powerful batting display and collective effort. While the result boosts their campaign, the focus now shifts to Kohli’s fitness, with fans hoping the veteran remains fully fit for the matches ahead.
