IPL 2026: RCB vs GT - Virat Kohli Hits Four Consecutive Fours Against Kagiso Rabada in Powerplay

Royal Challengers Bengaluru are batting first against Gujarat Titans in IPL 2026. Virat Kohli and Jacob Bethell are opening the batting for RCB. Mohammed Siraj has the new ball for GT.

Overs 0.1-0.3: Siraj starts with a maiden over. He beats Bethell's bat straight away with a moving delivery at 135.6 kph on a back of length. Bethell then angles a delivery to the left of short third for a single to get off the mark. Siraj angles a delivery into Kohli, who plays it late and the ball bounces off the bat over the stumps. Kohli has a look at Bethell before setting off for a quick run. Siraj bowls a lovely delivery shaping away, fuller and in the channel. Kohli has a feel for it before withdrawing his bat. He is lucky not to nick this one behind. Score: 1/0 after 0.4 overs.

Overs 0.4-0.6: Siraj errs in line and offers width. Jacob Bethell frees his arms and cuts it through the vacant point region for four. The ball skips across the turf and the man at deep backward point stands no chance. Score: 6/0 after 0.6 overs.

Overs 1.1-1.5: Kagiso Rabada comes on to bowl. First ball - banged away by Rabada, around the off stump. It comes around the midriff to Kohli, who gets on his toes and pulls it aerially between mid-wicket and mid on for his first boundary. FOUR!

Ball 1.2: Rabada hurls it on a back of a length, outside off. Kohli presses on the front foot and hits it on the up. Launches it on the rise to the left of mid off for another boundary. FOUR MORE!

Ball 1.3: On the fuller side, just outside off. Kohli extends his hands into the drive and angles it to the right of backward point. Manav Suthar dives to his right and gets a hand on it but it is not enough. FOUR! Make that a hat-trick of boundaries.

Ball 1.4: This is on a length, outside off, Kohli leans into the drive with his hands and cracks it behind point. Mohammed Siraj sprints and dives to his left from deep backward point but fails to cut it off. FOUR! Four in a row for Kohli.

Ball 1.5: Pitched up by Rabada, outside off, Kohli presses onto the front foot in a flash and plays a punchy drive in front of square this time. Threads it past cover to his right for four more. FOUR! Kohli is putting on a real clinic.

Score: 26/0 after 1.5 overs. Kohli 26*, Bethell 0*.

Pre-match Comments:

RCB Captain Rajat Patidar: "We would have fielded first as well, but we feel that it is a good wicket to bat on. We hope to put up a strong total and put GT under pressure. We are pleased with the way the team has been playing. Different players stepping up at various moments is a very positive sign. We are unchanged for this game."

GT Captain Shubman Gill: "The surface looks like it will have a bit of purchase in the first 4-5 overs for the pacers, and there might be some dew later on as well. We have two home games on the bounce, and that will define our season. RCB are the defending champions and are a class side. The mood in the camp is positive after the last game, and we will look to keep our spirits high. We are going with the same side."