"I've put enough work physically behind the scenes": Virat Kohli

Indian batting maestro Virat Kohli made a striking return to T20 cricket, delivering a match-winning unbeaten 69 off 38 balls to guide Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a convincing six-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday. Kohli's masterful knock showcased his enduring class and also highlighted how a brief break from the shortest format had revitalised his approach.

Coming back after a gap since the IPL 2025 Final, where Bengaluru finally secured their first-ever title, Kohli looked composed and in complete control, playing a supreme knock. 

“It’s good to get back out there. You mentioned T20 cricket; the last game I played was the final last year, but I think the way I batted in the one-day series quite recently really helped me to stay in that same kind of momentum. I wasn’t playing shots that I don’t usually play. So I knew as long as I have the rhythm and I've put enough work physically behind the scenes with my fitness, things should come together nicely. And yeah, tonight was another another chance to start strong and to build on this," Kohli said after the match.

"Well, you know, the kind of scheduling that we've had over the last 15 years, and the amount of cricket I've played, for me, there was always a risk of getting burnt out rather than being undercooked. So these breaks helped me immensely. I stay fresh, I stay excited. Whenever I come back to play, it's 120%. I'm not coming back, you know, underprepared," Kohli said after the game.

"In fact, the extra rest helps me to mentally freshen up. And as long as you're physically fit and you're excited mentally, both those things come together nicely. And then you're able to, you know, contribute for the team's cause. And that's what you want to do as a player. You don't want to hold on to a spot. You want to keep performing, and, you know, keep putting in the work for the team."

Chasing Sunrisers Hyderabad's competitive 201/9, Kohli anchored the chase with utmost control, firing five fours and as many sixes in his highly controlled knock.