When the pressure mounted and the chase began to tighten, Virat Kohli once again slipped into a role he has perfected over the years — part anchor, part finisher, and entirely the driving force behind Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

His unbeaten 105 off 60 balls against Kolkata Knight Riders in Raipur was more than just another century in an already decorated IPL career. It served as yet another reminder that few players in the tournament’s history have mastered the art of chasing targets quite like Kohli.

The innings guided RCB to a successful chase of 193 and saw Kohli draw level with Jos Buttler for the most centuries in winning IPL chases, with three each. Ben Stokes sits behind them with two.

Kohli’s knock bore all the trademarks of his finest pursuits — a steady start, calculated acceleration, and complete command as the target approached. Even on a night rich in statistics, it was the composure and control of his innings that stood out. He dictated the tempo with the assurance of a batter who has made high-pressure chases his domain.

The Raipur effort also found a place among RCB’s highest successful chases in IPL history. Only their 228-run chase against Lucknow Super Giants in 2025, the 206-run chase against Gujarat Titans earlier this season, the 204-run chase against Punjab Kings in 2010, the 202-run chase against Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2026, and the 201-run chase against Gujarat Titans in 2024 rank higher.

The century also added another chapter to Kohli’s strong record against Kolkata Knight Riders. It was his second IPL hundred against them, making him only the second player after Buttler to score multiple centuries against two different IPL teams. Kohli had earlier achieved the same feat against the now-defunct Gujarat Lions.

His dominance over specific opponents continues to set him apart. Kohli now has 1,126 runs against KKR, while also holding records for most IPL runs against Chennai Super Kings (1,174), Delhi Capitals (1,172), and Punjab Kings (1,159). Only Rohit Sharma, with 1,161 runs against KKR, and David Warner, with 1,134 runs against Punjab Kings, feature alongside him in that elite bracket.

This was Kohli’s ninth IPL century, extending his lead as the tournament’s most prolific centurion ahead of Buttler’s seven. He also reached 10 T20 centuries overall, drawing level with Warner and trailing only Chris Gayle (22) and Babar Azam (13) on the all-time list.

Yet beyond the milestones and numbers, the innings reinforced a familiar truth — when the stakes rise in a chase, Kohli remains the player most trusted to carry his team across the line.