That knock of 115 alongside Devdutt Padikkal changed everything, according to Virat Kohli, when Royal Challengers Bengaluru chased down 206 against the Gujarat Titans. Scoring 81 off 44 balls earned him Player of the Match, yet his focus stayed on reading the pitch before shifting gears. Knowing Bengaluru tends to produce big totals, he pointed out how just one steady alliance often reshapes a contest, this time proving no different. The momentum swung their way firmly once that stand took root.

Virat Kohli mentioned talks with Jacob Bethell focused on sizing up the pitch and figuring out the bowlers. After getting into rhythm, the idea became clear just grab hold. Surprisingly, it was Padikkal who made it happen, playing exactly as needed. Right away, he’s stood out this season, launching innings without hesitation each time he steps in.

“That partnership was the game changer for us”, says Virat Kohli

Midway through the innings, Padikkal moved fast; his 55 off just 27 balls kept RCB on track without rushing the pace. That boundary he pulled against Kagiso Rabada? Kohli pointed straight to it, calling it calm thinking under pressure. He doesn’t blast wildly; instead, clean swings with sense, that kind of control, while hitting past 200 strikes per hundred is scarce these days. Few manage grace and speed together like that in T20s.

Also Read: Virat Kohli surpasses Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill to lead the Orange Cap race

Dev Padikkal pushed the pace while Kohli held things together from the opposite crease. His job is to take the heat, wait for openings, then strike when it matters, making room for someone else to breathe. That mix of push and pull carried them across the line. Together, they showed how fire and calm can share a stage in RCB’s lineup.

Virat Kohli stressed how strong RCB’s lineup goes beyond just the top order, naming players such as Tim David who can push runs late. While talking it through, he made clear their approach isn’t layered with complexity; it’s about trusting gut feelings once you’re in the middle. Moments open up, they take them.

That stadium air, thick with energy, Kohli said Chinnaswamy always feels different, almost alive. Maybe they’d get back there when it matters, he thought, just to see those fans roar again. Five victories out of seven pushed RCB up to number two; momentum is theirs now. Next stop: Delhi, on April 27, facing the Delhi Capitals under lights, where Kohli has written older chapters of his story.