Intro
Star batter dismisses criticism, leads RCB with match-winning knock in season opener
Bengaluru
Virat Kohli has brushed aside social media trolls labelling him an “overseas player”, responding with humour while letting his bat do the talking in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season opener.
The 37-year-old, who has been living in England with his family to escape constant public attention in India, returned to action for Royal Challengers Bengaluru and made an immediate impact. Despite limited game time since India’s last ODI assignment in January, Kohli delivered a composed and commanding performance against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Kohli’s relocation to London had sparked chatter online, with some fans jokingly calling him an “overseas player” — a reference to IPL rules allowing only four foreign players in a playing XI. Addressing the banter in a light-hearted interaction with presenter Danish Sait, Kohli smiled and said, “I am not an overseas player. Am I an overseas player?” — drawing laughs and ending the debate with ease.
Beyond the humour, Kohli reflected on his journey and the significance of success, particularly after guiding RCB to their maiden IPL title last season. He described the triumph as a moment when the “monkey off the back” feeling finally made sense, bringing relief and a sense of fulfilment after years of effort.
“Victory is the accumulation of hard work and sacrifices. It reassures you that your commitment has meaning,” Kohli said, emphasising how success fuels further motivation while also acknowledging that setbacks can be disheartening for many athletes.
On the field, Kohli showed no signs of slowing down. Chasing a daunting 202 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, he scored a fluent 69 off 38 deliveries, including five fours and five sixes. His innings powered RCB to the fastest 200-plus chase in IPL history, completed in just 15.4 overs.
During the knock, Kohli also surpassed Shoaib Malik to become the Asian player with the most T20 runs and achieved another milestone by crossing 4,000 IPL runs while chasing — reaffirming his enduring class and dominance.
