Sanjay Manjrekar, a former Indian cricketer, has advised Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s star batsman, Virat Kohli, to continue with his aggressive batting style during the IPL knockouts. Manjrekar emphasized that Kohli should not feel overly burdened by pressure in crucial match moments.
Despite a recent loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) maintained their top position in the points table with 18 points. Gujarat Titans also secured the second spot with an equal number of points, having won nine matches.
RCB vs GT: Head-to-Head clash ahead of Qualifier 1
Both Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans have advanced to the playoffs and finished at the top of the table. The two teams have had a closely contested season, with each securing one victory against the other before entering the knockout stages.
In their first encounter at Chinnaswamy, Virat Kohli delivered a dominant performance, easily chasing down the target. However, the Titans avenged this loss in their second match at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
While RCB has experienced two defeats in their last five matches, Gujarat Titans have shown strong form, winning four of their last five games. This sets the stage for a highly intense playoff encounter.
Sanjay Manjrekar advises Virat Kohli to continue with his aggressive streak
As Royal Challengers Bengaluru prepare to face Gujarat Titans in the first qualifier of IPL 2026, Sanjay Manjrekar shared valuable guidance for Virat Kohli. Manjrekar suggested that Kohli should maintain his attacking approach, which has been a notable addition to his consistent performance this season.
He believes that RCB’s success this season stems from a balanced team effort rather than individual brilliance. «RCB’s approach must remain the same. Virat Kohli is a key player, but everything does not hinge on him; that is how they have become such a good team,» Manjrekar stated.
Manjrekar pointed out that Kohli has a tendency to take on too much responsibility in high-pressure situations. «It is important for Virat to keep playing in the same fashion, because he has a tendency in the final stages to take too much of the onus on himself, and if he does that, that is dangerous territory for RCB to be in. So, I think they should keep the same template,» Sanjay Manjrekar told Sportstar.
Virat Kohli leads the pack; Top-scoring batters for RCB in IPL 2026
The batsmen of Royal Challengers Bengaluru have played a significant role in their success in IPL 2026. The legendary 37-year-old Virat Kohli has once again been a standout performer for the defending champions.
Kohli has scored 557 runs in 14 matches with an impressive strike rate of 163.82 this season, including one century and four half-centuries. Devdutt Padikkal is the second-highest run-scorer for the team with 433 runs, followed by skipper Rajat Patidar, who has amassed 393 runs in 13 appearances.
Tim David is the fourth-highest run-scorer, having scored 277 runs in 13 innings. Phil Salt, despite playing only six matches, has accumulated 202 runs.
