New Delhi: Virat Kohli once again put in a stellar performance with a 34-ball 49 to lead Royal Challengers Bangalore to a comfortable five-wicket win over Lucknow Supergiants in IPL 2026. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday. Chasing 147 runs, RCB cruised home in 15.1 overs, with Kohli once again setting the tone at the top of the table.Despite winning the match, Kohli made a shocking admission about his physical condition. “Much better than the last game. I’m not back to 100 percent yet. My knee was a little sore from the last game. Even in terms of fitness, I’ve been out of shape for four or five days now,” he said after the game, adding a stark reflection on his current form: in terms of fitness and rhythm, he is “not 10 percent where he wants to be”.The former India skipper, who trained with a heavy strap on his left knee, hit a six and a six in another flowing innings to take his tournament score to 228 heading into the Orange Cap.“Intensity is good, but I should finish it”Kohli said he was happy with his start but admitted he missed his own chance to end the chase. “I started well today so I’m happy with my intensity. Again, I want to keep playing and finish,” he said.He also noted the slow pace of the game. “Sometimes you have to take into account the conditions as well. The course has slowed down significantly and I just want to keep going in the same way.”Kohli praised RCB skipper Rajat Patidar for his clarity and aggression, saying he is the one who assesses “the bowler’s heart rate and not the situation”, highlighting the team’s fearless approach to batting. RCB’s depth and adaptability drive powerKohli highlighted the flexibility of RCB’s batting unit, praising the depth provided by the likes of Romario Shepherd and Tim David. “If you put Romario and Thiem in five games down, it would look scary. These guys can give you 50 points in four rounds,” he said.Looking ahead, Kohli stressed adaptability will be key in the second half of the season. “When the pressure comes, you have to use game intelligence. Whoever adapts best will go further.”
