Virat Kohli, who started the IPL 2026 season in explosive form, has suddenly lost his rhythm. Once leading the race for the Orange Cap, Kohli has now returned to the pavilion without opening his account in two consecutive matches. In the latest clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Mumbai Indians (MI) held in Raipur, Kohli was dismissed on the very first ball he faced, falling victim to a 'Golden Duck'. This slump comes after a prolific start where he amassed nearly 400 runs in the first 9 matches of the season.
Golden Duck Against Mumbai Indians in Raipur
In the match held at Raipur, Mumbai Indians set a target of 167 runs for Bengaluru. RCB opener Jacob Bethell started the chase aggressively, hitting two boundaries off Mumbai's pacer Deepak Chahar in the first over to put the bowling side under pressure. However, on the fifth ball of the same over, the momentum shifted drastically. Virat Kohli attempted to play a shot over mid-off against Chahar but failed to execute it properly, resulting in a catch by the fielder. This dismissal silenced the RCB fans present in Raipur as Kohli departed for a 0.
A Repeat of the 2022 Nightmare
This marks the second consecutive match in this season where Kohli has failed to score. In the previous game against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), he was bowled by Prince Yadav after facing just 2 deliveries. This is the first time since the 2022 season that Kohli has been dismissed for a duck in two successive IPL matches. In 2022, he faced a similar situation against Lucknow and Sunrisers Hyderabad. On top of that, this is Kohli's first 'Golden Duck' in the IPL since 2023, when he was dismissed on the first ball against Rajasthan Royals.
RCB Struggles in the Powerplay
Apart from Kohli, other Bengaluru batsmen also struggled early in the innings. Devdutt Padikkal, who came in as the Impact Player, couldn't stay long and was dismissed for 12 runs, becoming Deepak Chahar's second victim. On the other hand, team captain Rajat Patidar was sent back to the pavilion after scoring just 8 runs, with his wicket taken by Corbin Bosch. Consequently, RCB lost 3 wickets within the powerplay, managing to score only 47 runs in the first 6 overs.
The early collapse left Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a precarious position while chasing the 167-run target set by Mumbai Indians in Raipur.