Virat Kohli and Venkatesh Iyer struck half-centuries to help defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru become the first team to qualify for the IPL play-offs with a 23-run win over Punjab Kings on Sunday.

India batting great Virat Kohli said in a podcast released on Friday he would consider playing in the 2027 ODI Cricket World Cup if he can still "add value" to the team.

Virat Kohli said his love of cricket keeps him going but admitted his career "is going to finish one day" after ending a mini slump in form with a match-winning IPL century.

Kohli returned to form after back-to-back ducks as he steered his team home in a chase of 193 in Raipur with an excellent 60-ball innings.

“He’s a genius,” Dale Steyn, Kohli’s one-time team-mate at RCB, said on ESPNcricinfo’s TimeOut show, praising his ability to read the game.

Virat Kohli punished Gujarat Titans for dropping him on nought with a blistering half-century as Royal Challengers Bengaluru breezed to a five-wicket victory In the Indian Premier League on Friday.

Speaking after receiving the Orange Cap for leading the season’s run charts, Kohli acknowledged he was still working his way back to full rhythm.

The 37-year-old Kohli was only able to play as a batter due to an injury suffered in Bengaluru's previous win over Mumbai Indians.

Openers Phil Salt and Virat Kohli hit half-centuries to lay the foundations for Royal Challengers Bengaluru's 18-run win over Mumbai Indians in a high-profile IPL clash on Sunday.

Kohli’s last T20 appearance came in the Indian Premier League 2025 final, which RCB won to end their wait for a maiden title, and they began their defence by chasing down a target of 202 in 15.4 overs. Kohli remained unbeaten in the chase.

Virat Kohli hit an unbeaten 69 as defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru thrashed Sunrisers Hyderabad by six wickets in the IPL season opener on Saturday, after a tribute in memory of the 11 fans who died in a stampede last year.

Virat Kohli is hungry and at the "peak of his powers", with his IPL team Royal Challengers Bengaluru set to start their title defence, coach Andy Flower said Friday.

Batting stars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who have retired from Test and T20 international cricket, had their India central contracts downgraded on Monday.

The 10th edition of the T20 World Cup begins today in India and Sri Lanka. Ahead of the marquee T20 event, here we look at some interesting facts:

Commanding centuries from New Zealand batters Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips set up a historic series win for the Black Caps, who beat India by 41 runs in the third and final ODI in Indore on Sunday.

Star India batter Virat Kohli reclaimed the No.1 spot in the latest ICC Men's Rankings update after India's four-wicket win over New Zealand in the first ODI.

His masterclass on Sunday was the 37-year-old's fifth consecutive 50-plus score in ODIs.

Virat Kohli hit 93 to help India chase down 301 in a tense four-wicket win over New Zealand in the first one-day international on Sunday.

He praised Kohli’s hunger, intensity, and passion, calling him the closest batter to challenge Sachin Tendulkar’s records.

Virat Kohli marked his return to domestic cricket in emphatic fashion as he shattered a long-standing record on his first outing in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, while Rohit Sharma also made headlines with a blistering century-plus knock on the same day.