Virat Kohli stayed back in Delhi on Tuesday morning for a local event instead of flying with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) squad to Ahmedabad. This quick pivot in his travel plans came right after RCB beat the Delhi Capitals for their sixth win of IPL 2026, moving them up to second in the standings.
While the rest of the team caught an early flight for their upcoming game against the Gujarat Titans, Kohli joined his former coach Rajkumar Sharma and DDCA President Rohan Jaitley to open a new West Delhi Cricket Academy branch at DPS RK Puram.
The defending champions have 12 points from eight games and could take the top spot if the Punjab Kings lose to the Rajasthan Royals tonight. With the schedule getting tight at this stage of the tournament, the team had to move fast to get ready for the heat at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
Reports say Kohli wanted to prioritise this grassroots project in his hometown, but team management expects him back in camp by Wednesday. His absence from the flight got fans talking immediately, but the veteran batter seems focused on balancing his IPL duties with his deep roots in Delhi’s cricket scene.
Historical milestones for Virat Kohli in Delhi
During the big win over the Delhi Capitals on 27 April, Kohli made history by becoming the first player to ever cross 9,000 runs in the IPL. He only needed 11 runs to hit the mark and got there easily during the power play as RCB chased a small target. The Bengaluru bowlers had earlier torn through the Delhi lineup, bowling them out for just 75 in about 16 overs.
The chase was incredibly fast, with RCB reaching the target in just 6.3 overs, one of the quickest successful chases the league has ever seen. Virat Kohli looked solid and aggressive, finishing 23 not out off 15 balls and sealing the win with two big sixes off T Natarajan.
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His current form is the backbone of the franchise, coming right off his 81-run knock against the Gujarat Titans. As the playoffs get closer, Virat Kohli is still leading the run charts while his team push for back-to-back titles.
