Virat Kohli returned to the crease for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Thursday, facing off against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow for a crucial IPL 2026 clash.

The former India captain came into this match with impressive form, having kicked off the season with a match-winning, unbeaten 69 runs that helped RCB dominate Sunrisers Hyderabad in their opener. While he followed that up with solid starts against Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals, Kohli was unable to convert those early efforts into big scores.

However, Kohli quickly regained his rhythm against Gujarat Titans, smashing 81 runs off just 44 balls to guide RCB to a comfortable chase of 206. He then showed his composure against Delhi Capitals, remaining unbeaten on 23 from 15 deliveries as RCB chased down a tiny target of 76 runs in just seven overs.

In his most recent outing before Thursday's game, Kohli opened the innings against Gujarat Titans again but could not carry on after a promising start, falling for 28 runs off 13 balls. The inconsistency in converting starts into big scores has been a talking point, but with his track record of bouncing back, all eyes were on him to deliver against LSG.

As one of the most consistent performers in IPL history, Kohli's form is always a key factor for RCB's success. His ability to anchor innings while accelerating when needed makes him a vital asset in the middle order. Whether he could find his groove at the Ekana Stadium and add another strong performance to his season tally was the big question for fans and fantasy league players alike.