Virat Kohli The IPL 2026 Orange Cap race took a huge leap after a sensational century against Kolkata Knight Riders on Wednesday night. Heading into the clash, Kohli had slipped to 10th position in the standings after registering back-to-back ducks. However, the RCB superstar responded in trademark fashion with an unbeaten 105 off 60 balls, guiding Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a successful chase of 193 in Raipur and taking the team to the top. IPL 2026 points table. The century also helped Kohli climb from 10th to third on the Orange Cap leaderboard, taking him firmly back among the tournament’s top run-scorers.
IPL 2026 Orange Cap Standings
| position | the player | The team | Matches | runs | Strike rate | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heinrich Klassen | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 12 | 501 | 153.93 | 50.80 |
| 2 | Sai Sudharsan | Gujarat Titans | 12 | 501 | 155.10 | 41.75 |
| 3 | Virat Kohli | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 12 | 484 | 165.75 | 53.78 |
| 4 | Abhishek Sharma | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 12 | 481 | 209.13 | 43.73 |
| 5 | KL Rahul | Delhi Capitals | 12 | 477 | 177.98 | 43.36 |
Kohli’s unbeaten 105 again came in his favorite scenario, a run chase. Chasing a tough target of 193, the RCB opener maintained an aggressive spirit and opened the innings in a brilliant fashion, eventually ending the match with five balls to spare.This innings also turned into another historic night for Kohli. During the run, he became the fastest batsman in cricket history to reach 14,000 T20 runs, reaching the milestone in just 409 innings. It was also Kohli’s ninth IPL century, extending his record for most centuries in the tournament’s history and cementing his status as one of the greatest T20 batsmen of all time.Despite the avalanche of milestones, Kohli remained calm and grounded while talking about the achievements after the match.“Well, I just love batting, even after all that. That’s my basic feeling,” Kohli said. “What an honor to still be playing at this level and competing against the best teams in the world. Cricket is something I truly love. Every time I step on the field, I give my heart and soul because one day it will all be over, and I want to make the most of every moment,” Kohli said during the post-match presentation.He added that stressful situations continue to motivate him instead of scaring him.“I enjoy challenging myself in tough situations. I look forward to moments where there is pressure and heat because that’s when you test yourself and say, just go for it,” Kohli added.
