Virat Kohli’s Century Powers RCB to Top of IPL 2026 Table in Thrilling Chase Against KKR

May 14, 2026: Royal Challengers Bengaluru booked their place in the IPL 2026 playoffs and climbed to the top of the points table with 16 points after defeating Kolkata Knight Riders by six wickets in Raipur on Tuesday. Chasing a competitive target of 193, RCB completed the chase with five balls remaining, thanks to a sensational unbeaten century from Virat Kohli.

After going through a difficult phase with two consecutive ducks before the match, Kohli responded perfectly with a match-winning 105* off just 60 balls. The veteran batter played aggressive cricket right from the powerplay and dominated the KKR bowling attack throughout the innings. He finished with 11 boundaries and three sixes in an innings that reminded fans why he remains one of the greatest batters in T20 cricket.

The knock became even more special as it came in Kohli’s record 279th IPL appearance, making him the most-capped player in the tournament’s history. The RCB star looked calm, confident, and in complete control as he guided his side home in a crucial match.

Kohli also received strong support from Devdutt Padikkal, who scored an important 39 runs, while Jacob Bethell provided a quick start at the top. Even after losing a few wickets during the middle overs, RCB remained firmly in control of the chase with Kohli anchoring the innings till the very end.

A game to remember. 🤌
A knock we'll cherish. ✨
A night of supreme happiness. 😁

Raipur, this 𝗪𝗜𝗡 was for you. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/AYi9PYfj4n

— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) May 13, 2026

Kohli Equals Warner and Reaches Historic T20 Milestone

The century was Kohli’s 10th hundred in T20 cricket, helping him equal Australia star David Warner on the list of players with the most centuries in the shortest format. Kohli now has the joint third-highest number of T20 centuries in cricket history. Only Chris Gayle, with 22 centuries, and Babar Azam, with 13, are ahead of him on the elite list.

During the innings, Kohli also achieved another major milestone by completing 14,000 runs in T20 cricket. He became the first Indian batter to reach the landmark, further strengthening his legacy in the format. Kohli needed 78 runs before the match to get there and reached the historic mark in the 16th over against Sunil Narine.

Making it look easy, yet again 🫡

Virat Kohli is adjudged the Player of the Match for his unbeaten century 🏅

WATCH HIS KNOCK ▶️ https://t.co/raZ3ufc8FC#TATAIPL | #KhelBindaas | #RCBvKKR pic.twitter.com/t5d7hmpRcE

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 13, 2026

Most runs by Indians in T20 cricket:

Virat Kohli – 14,027 runs in 409 innings*
Rohit Sharma – 12,491 runs in 456 innings
Shikhar Dhawan – 9,797 runs in 331 innings
Suryakumar Yadav – 9,654 runs in 345 innings
Sanju Samson – 8,830 runs in 324 innings

Reaching another milestone and redefining its benchmark 🙌

Just VIRAT KOHLI things 👊#TATAIPL | #KhelBindaas | #RCBvKKR | @imVkohli pic.twitter.com/J03DGlbdnN

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 13, 2026

Earlier in the match, Kolkata Knight Riders posted a strong total of 192/4 in their 20 overs. Angkrish Raghuvanshi led the scoring with an impressive 71 off 46 balls, while Rinku Singh remained unbeaten on 49. However, RCB’s bowlers managed to control the scoring during key moments of the innings, preventing KKR from crossing the 200-run mark.

With this important victory, RCB not only secured their place in the IPL 2026 playoffs but also moved to the top of the standings. The win has significantly boosted their hopes of finishing inside the top two before the knockout stage begins.