In a high-stakes encounter at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) reclaimed their throne at the summit of the IPL 2026 points table. Led by a vintage masterclass from Virat Kohli, RCB chased down a formidable target of 192 to defeat Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by six wickets with five balls to spare.
A comfortable chase and #RCB back at the top of the table 🔝
The defending champions make it two wins in two games at their new home in Raipur 🙌
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/X27WecYjiZ#TATAIPL | #KhelBindaas | #RCBvKKR | @RCBTweets pic.twitter.com/ffMGKXUaoU
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 13, 2026
The Kohli Redemption: From Ducks to Dominance
All eyes were on Virat Kohli following a rare slump involving two consecutive ducks. However, the legendary opener silenced detractors in Raipur, anchoring the chase with a flawless 105 off 60 balls*. This innings marked his 9th IPL century, further cementing his legacy as the league’s most prolific centurion.
Some classics never go out of style 💯👑
Give Virat Kohli a target and he writes history 🙌
Updates ▶️ https://t.co/X27WecYjiZ#TATAIPL | #KhelBindaas | #RCBvKKR | @imVkohli pic.twitter.com/LcdqKiwYVo
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 13, 2026
While wickets fell intermittently at the other end, Kohli’s composure ensured the run rate remained manageable. The victory was punctuated by Jitesh Sharma, who smashed the winning boundary off KKR’s impact player, Saurabh Dubey, in the final over.
KKR’s Batting Effort: Raghuvanshi and Rinku Shine
Earlier in the evening, after a brief rain delay that fortunately didn’t result in lost overs, RCB won the toss and opted to field. KKR posted a challenging 191/5, riding on a sophisticated 71 from youngster Angkrish Raghuvanshi.
Raghuvanshi’s steady foundation allowed Rinku Singh to play his trademark finisher role, bludgeoning a quickfire 49 in the death overs. Despite the competitive total, KKR’s bowling unit struggled to contain a determined Kohli under the Raipur lights.
Points Table Shake-up
This victory carries massive implications for the playoff race:
RCB: Now sit at No. 1 with 16 points from 12 games, leapfrogging the Gujarat Titans.
KKR: Remain languishing in 8th place with 9 points from 11 games, making their path to the playoffs increasingly difficult.
Match Summary
KKR: 191/5 (20 overs) | Angkrish Raghuvanshi 71, Rinku Singh 49.
RCB: 195/4 (19.1 overs) | Virat Kohli 105*, Jitesh Sharma 12*.
Result: RCB won by 6 wickets.
Man of the Match: Virat Kohli.
