Virat Kohli writes another IPL epic with century for the ages against KKR

There’s an old story from Muhammad Ali’s later years. Long after the speed had slowed and the legs no longer danced like before, Ali was once asked what kept him going. His answer was that champions don’t retire from belief. They retire when belief leaves them. Virat Kohli batted like a man who still believes he owns every chase in the world.

Raipur saw another Kohli hundred on Wednesday night. But this one arrived after two ducks. After whispers. After the inevitable questions that follow ageing sporting icons around like shadows. And then, as he has done for nearly two decades now, Kohli responded the only way he knows how. He left everyone awestruck.

An unbeaten 105 off 60 balls. A chase of 193 felt like nothing. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) back on top of the IPL 2026 table. Meanwhile, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are all but out of IPL 2026. And somewhere in between all that, another reminder that pressure still awakens something frightening inside Virat Kohli.