Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Ashwin was particularly struck by Kohli’s approach and intensity at the crease. “He walks the talk,” Ashwin said on a JioHotstar show, highlighting how the veteran continues to set the benchmark.“It’s almost like he’s putting on a show for people to see how the game should be played — play it hard and play it the way it’s meant to be played,” he added.Kohli’s knock came on the back of a prolific run in ODIs, where he had already showcased sublime form against New Zealand and South Africa earlier this year, underlining his consistency across formats.‘Bizarre at this age’What stood out most for Ashwin, however, was Kohli’s unmatched intensity between the wickets. “I find him quite bizarre at this age. I tell him this during our chats,” he revealed.Recalling a moment from the innings, Ashwin said, “He was batting on 40-odd, RCB were coasting, and he ran through for a single. He stopped, and before the other batter had reached halfway, he was already looking for a second.”He added that even with a shorter boundary, Kohli’s eagerness to push for extra runs reflected his enduring hunger. “That shows the enthusiasm he still brings to the game,” Ashwin noted.Backing Duffy’s impactAshwin also praised Jacob Duffy for his match-defining spell, crediting him for setting the tone with the ball.“When Duffy was picked, I said it was an amazing choice. He’s right in the prime of his career,” Ashwin said, adding that the pacer adapted smartly after early setbacks.“Tactically, RCB were superior and he executed those plans beautifully,” he observed.Yet, the spotlight firmly remained on Kohli — whose relentless drive, according to Ashwin, continues to defy age and expectations.

Curran revealed he had been carrying the injury through the global tournament. “It’s an injury that I’ve kind of been battling with a little bit. It has gradually got fractionally worse,” he said, in a conversation with BBC.ALSO READ: ‘Two-year ban not working’: Sunil Gavaskar calls for stricter IPL pullout rulesPost-tournament scans confirmed the extent of the damage. “I went for a couple of scans, and it showed reasonable damage, so I had to make the tough decision. It was hindering me quite a bit,” he added.The 27-year-old said missing the IPL was particularly frustrating given his excitement about joining a new franchise. “To miss the IPL was very disappointing… but now I have a rehab block of trying to get strong and fit,” he noted.Focus shifts to recoveryCurran is now undergoing rehabilitation in England and admitted that his return timeline remains uncertain. “It’s all going to come down to symptoms. It is obviously still a way off from that,” he said, casting doubt over his participation in upcoming domestic assignments.He is also unlikely to feature immediately for Surrey and remains unsure about leading the side in the T20 Blast. “It is probably my first time to do a bit of rehab back in England,” he said.Despite the setback, Curran remained pragmatic. “It will be tough to watch the IPL because I know that I’d like to have been there, but injuries are part of sport,” he added.Rajasthan have since named Dasun Shanaka as his replacement for the season.Curran’s withdrawal adds to a growing list of high-profile absentees this year, underlining the physical toll of a packed cricket calendar.

However, he stressed that understanding the decision does not mean accepting its impact on the league. “What should be done is something for the BCCI to think about, because a two-year ban is obviously not working,” he said.The former India captain emphasised that the current rule lacks real consequences. “You have to look at something that will have an impact. As long as it’s not having an impact on the player and his chances of coming back to the IPL, it won’t work,” he added.Withdrawals spark fresh debateThe IPL currently imposes a two-year ban on overseas players who withdraw after being picked at the auction without valid injury reasons. However, repeated cases have raised doubts about its effectiveness.Duckett’s withdrawal follows similar instances, including that of Harry Brook, who is already serving a ban after pulling out in a previous season.The England opener defended his decision, saying it reflected his commitment to national duty. “Turning down a good chunk of money… is a step in the right direction to show how much playing for England means to me,” Duckett said.While the league continues to attract global stars, such last-minute exits disrupt team balance and planning. Gavaskar hinted that unless the BCCI enforces stricter penalties, the trend may continue.

“I don’t think he is anywhere close to the end of his career. I think he still has five or six quality years left in him and, as Sanjay (Bangar) and I were discussing earlier, he should make a comeback in Test cricket as well – hopefully as a captain,” Rayudu told ESPNCricinfo.“We are serious. He is the best red-ball captain I have seen in Indian cricket, and the way he is batting now, it is a loss for Indian cricket,” he added.Kohli retired from Test cricket in 2025.In the match, Hyderabad recovered from a poor start, thanks to Ishan Kishan’s quick 80 and support from Ankiet Verma, reaching 201/9.In reply, Kohli led the charge, supported by Devdutt Padikkal and Rajat Patidar. Bengaluru chased the target in just 15.4 overs, the fastest 200+ chase in IPL history.Kohli also achieved a major milestone, becoming the first player to score over 4000 IPL runs in chases and moving past Shoaib Malik in T20 run charts, capping off a memorable night.

His recent form has been outstanding, with consistently high scores in white-ball cricket, leaving critics with little to say.

Kaif’s post sparks debate

After the match, former cricketer Mohammad Kaif shared a post defending Kohli and reminding fans of his strong performances. Expressing his view on X, he wrote, “Imagine, after two ducks in Australia, they said Virat Kohli was over. His last 10 scores in white-ball cricket are: 74, 135, 102, 65, 131, 77, 93, 23, 124, and 69 n.o in this match.”While the message praised Kohli, many fans questioned its timing. They felt there was no need to defend him now since he has been performing consistently. Some also pointed out that earlier criticism was mostly about his struggles in Test cricket, not limited-overs formats.

Kohli keeps scripting records

Kohli also reached major milestones during the game. He became the first player in IPL history to score 4000 runs in chases and moved past Shoaib Malik in T20 run charts. He scored his 64th IPL fifty and finished the match in style.Alongside him, Devdutt Padikkal played a quick knock as RCB chased down 203 in just 15.4 overs, boosting their net run rate early in the tournament.

Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Patidar didn’t hold back in his admiration, calling Kohli the backbone of any chase. “No words can describe Virat Kohli. When he is in, the team is always in the chase. He is the No. 1 batter,” he said.The RCB captain credited Kohli and Padikkal for laying the foundation of the chase, dismissing suggestions of a pre-set aggressive template. “Not a policy, we assessed the wicket and it was good. Padikkal’s and Kohli’s innings were the base,” he explained.‘Everyone chipped in’While Kohli’s knock headlined the chase, Patidar highlighted the collective effort behind the win. “The way boys played, and this was a season opener, everyone chipped in and did the job,” he said.A key turning point, according to him, was the powerplay spell from debutant Jacob Duffy, who reduced SRH to 29/3. “Duffy was playing his first game, and the way he played and the wickets he took were the turning point,” Patidar noted.He also reserved praise for Phil Salt’s stunning effort in the field. “That was a terrific catch by Salt. Even I was surprised, but he is a great fielder,” he said.Patidar himself contributed a quickfire 31 off 12 balls and revealed his intent was simple: “I wanted to create a lot of impact… I just wanted to have a lot of impact.”Opposition takes note of Kohli threatSRH skipper Ishan Kishan also acknowledged Kohli’s decisive role. “It was very important to get his wicket as soon as possible. Otherwise, if he keeps going, it’s hard to stop him,” he admitted.With RCB starting their title defence in emphatic fashion, Patidar’s words echoed the mood in Bengaluru — when Kohli is in full flow, the chase is never out of reach.