Two ducks in a row would shake most batters. But Virat Kohli has spent nearly two decades dealing with pressure, so when he walked out against Kolkata Knight Riders in Raipur, he did not look like someone carrying panic. If anything, he looked irritated. What followed was one of the most entertaining responses of IPL 2026 — and another reminder of why Virat Kohli’s century against KKR instantly became the biggest talking point of the night.
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That One Single Meant Everything
The funniest moment of the match actually came before Kohli even started attacking. After suffering back-to-back ducks against Lucknow Super Giants and Mumbai Indians, Kohli simply needed a run. Just one. When he finally nudged a single early in the innings, he celebrated like he had won the IPL trophy itself. He punched the air, laughed at himself, and the Raipur crowd completely lost it.
Celebrate every run like Virat Kohli 😅
Updates ▶️ https://t.co/X27WecYjiZ#TATAIPL | #KhelBindaas | #RCBvKKR | @imVkohli pic.twitter.com/r23XtyBdNV
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 13, 2026
To anyone casually watching, the reaction probably looked over the top. But cricket fans instantly understood it. Those back-to-back ducks had become a huge discussion before the game. For a player known for consistency, two scoreless outings in a row felt bizarre. That single genuinely looked like someone switching the power back on.
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Once Kohli settled, the entire chase changed direction. RCB were chasing 193 on a surface that was not entirely straightforward early on. There was some movement with the new ball, and debutant Saurabh Dubey actually bowled a very tidy opening over. But after surviving that early phase, Kohli completely took over the tempo of the innings.
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The scary thing about Virat Kohli’s century was how calm it looked. There was no panic, no wild slogging, and no unnecessary risk. He just kept picking gaps, rotating strike, and punishing every loose delivery. Devdutt Padikkal’s quick 39 helped release pressure, but Kohli controlled everything. KKR also made things worse for themselves by dropping chances in the field. Rovman Powell put down Kohli early, and everyone knew immediately that it might cost them heavily. It absolutely did.
𝙑𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙑𝙞𝙧𝙖𝙩 🍿
Sumptuous strokes to delight Raipur 🎆
Updates ▶️ https://t.co/X27WecYjiZ#TATAIPL | #KhelBindaas | #RCBvKKR | @imVkohli pic.twitter.com/HPa2iJMSts
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 13, 2026
By the time Kohli reached his half-century, KKR looked mentally exhausted. The bowlers kept changing angles and lengths, but nothing worked. The crowd could sense something special was coming, and eventually Virat Kohli’s century arrived in just 58 balls. Considering he came into the match after back-to-back ducks, the turnaround felt almost ridiculous.
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He Has Done This Before
Interestingly, this was not even the first time Kohli responded to poor scores in dramatic fashion. Earlier during India’s tour of Australia, Kohli had also suffered a rough little patch before suddenly exploding back into form with a massive innings. Even then, fans noticed how emotional he looked after finally getting runs on the board again. That is probably what separates elite players from everybody else. Some batters allow failures to sit in their heads for weeks. Kohli usually treats setbacks like personal insults.
VIRAT KOHLI GONE FOR HIS SECOND DUCK OF THE SERIES!#AUSvIND | #PlayoftheDay | @BKTtires pic.twitter.com/jqIdvMeX9T
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 23, 2025
The IPL version of that mentality appeared again in Raipur. After those back-to-back ducks, plenty of people started questioning whether fatigue or pressure was finally catching up with him. Instead, Kohli answered with one of the cleanest chases of the season. The frightening part for bowlers is that Kohli often becomes more dangerous immediately after criticism. Once he finds rhythm again, stopping him becomes incredibly difficult.
Related Article：Will Virat Kohli Retire From ODI After His Shocking Form In Australia?
A CHEEKY CELEBRATION BY KOHLI AFTER TAKING 1 RUN. 😂 pic.twitter.com/LCqxMc3AZa
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 25, 2025
Records Started Falling Everywhere
The innings itself was already brilliant, but the numbers around it made the night even bigger. Kohli became the fastest player to reach 14000 runs in T20 cricket, breaking Chris Gayle’s previous record. He reached the landmark in just 409 innings, which honestly sounds absurd considering the standard of modern T20 cricket.
Reaching another milestone and redefining its benchmark 🙌
Just VIRAT KOHLI things 👊#TATAIPL | #KhelBindaas | #RCBvKKR | @imVkohli pic.twitter.com/J03DGlbdnN
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 13, 2026
Being the fastest player to reach 14000 runs in T20 is not just about longevity either. It reflects consistency across formats, conditions, and years of pressure. And that was only one record. During the same match, Kohli also became:
• The first Indian batter to score 10 T20 centuries.
• The player with the most IPL hundreds ever.
• Joint-highest Indian for IPL Player of the Match awards.
• The first IPL batter to score a hundred immediately after back-to-back ducks.
Vintage Kohli Feels Different
There is something oddly comforting about watching Kohli bat like this again. Modern T20 cricket is filled with outrageous hitting and fearless young players, but Kohli still chases targets in a way nobody else really can. His pacing feels surgical. He knows exactly when to absorb pressure and exactly when to attack.
That is why Virat Kohli’s century against KKR felt bigger than just another hundred. It pushed RCB back to the top of the table, badly damaged KKR’s playoff hopes, and reminded everyone that doubting Kohli after a poor run is usually a terrible idea.
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Only Kohli could turn escaping back-to-back ducks into one of the funniest and most iconic moments of the IPL season, before casually becoming the fastest player to reach 14000 runs in T20 later the same evening.
