Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan heaped praise on Virat Kohli after Royal Challengers Bengaluru clinched a six-wicket win against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru in IPL 2026 opener on Saturday.
Chasing 202 runs for the win, Kohli scored a brilliant knock of 69 runs off just 38 balls with the help of five fours and as many sixes. Pathan said Kohli showed maturity in giving the strike to Devdutt Padikkal, who was able to hit the ground running with a first-ball six.
Kohli ended his innings at a strike rate of 181.58 and Pathan praised the veteran for batting according to the match situation.
“In the post-match presentation, he praised Padikkal and said that when Padikkal flicked one six, I felt I should give him the strike more and I wanted to do that. Despite that, his strike rate was high when he finished his innings. No one has this understanding better than Kohli. The shot of the match was that straight chip shot down the ground for a six. The way he is batting and showing his fitness, it shows how much hunger he has. He does not play as an impact player, he plays in the XI and even puts impact,” Pathan said on his YouTube channel.
Pathan praised Kohli for staying unbeaten and getting his team over the line in the run-chase.
“When it comes to chasing, you will not find a bigger chase master than Virat Kohli in the world. We have been hearing this from over a decade and we get to hear it even today. It is the 19th season but even today, when it comes to chasing, there is only guy who stands tall again and again. The way he paced the innings and chased it was brilliant,” he added.
The former swing bowler also lauded Devdutt Padikkal’s knock after the left-hander scored 61 runs off just 26 balls.
“The way Padikkal batted, it showed that if you play domestic cricket and have good form, it will be very easy for you to perform at the big stage. It was the fastest fifty of his career. He came in with a different flow. It is not easy. It was important for him to start well with Venkatesh Iyer sitting out. This is inevitably there in your mind,” he said.
RCB will next take on Chennai Super Kings at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, on April 5.
