Royal Challengers Bengaluru suffered an early setback in their IPL 2026 clash against Delhi Capitals as Virat Kohli was dismissed for 19 runs during the powerplay at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday.
The wicket came at a crucial stage after RCB had made a brisk start, with Lungi Ngidi providing the breakthrough for Delhi Capitals.
Ngidi removes Virat Kohli after steady start
Kohli looked composed during his brief stay at the crease and had helped RCB build early momentum alongside Phil Salt. However, Ngidi struck in the sixth over to halt RCB's promising start.
The dismissal came off a scrambled seam delivery outside off stump. Kohli stepped down the track attempting to clear the infield but mistimed his shot, sending the ball towards deep cover where Pathum Nissanka completed
the catch.
Kohli's innings ended at 19, marking the first wicket for RCB.
RCB score at dismissal: 52/1 (5.1 overs)
Fan reactions pour in after Virat Kohli dismissal
Kohli's early exit triggered strong reactions among fans on social media, with many expressing surprise at the relatively low score.
Is it only me who turns off the TV when Virat Kohli gets out? 😭 pic.twitter.com/f4eIhSEva1
- Selfless⁴⁵ (@SelflessCricket) April 18, 2026
Virat Kohli has elevated his game to a next level..
There was a time when Virat's IPL stats used to look so mid for his standards till 2022 but in last 3 years, he has elevated his stats so well. He was always a GOAT T20I batter & it was a mystery why, he is not able to… pic.twitter.com/wIxncguZOa- Nafees (@Nafees_22) April 18, 2026
Some supporters highlighted Kohli's improved performances in recent IPL seasons, noting how he has elevated his T20 output over the past few years. Others reacted emotionally to his dismissal, joking that they often stop watching once the star batter gets out.
We don't need a new intent kohli we need that kohli who finishes the games for us the man who single handedly won games for us without this intent we want big scores from you king #kingkohli #virat #ipl #rcb
- Niranjan reddy (@ReddyR45154) April 18, 2026
A Rare Low Score for Virat Kohli! pic.twitter.com/U4AemOxe4R
- Shivamkoli (@Shivamkolisrki1) April 18, 2026
Despite the early setback, RCB still retained strong batting depth, with Salt continuing to attack and Padikkal settling in to rebuild the innings.
RCB cross 50 before losing first wicket
Before Kohli's departure, Royal Challengers Bengaluru had raced past the 50-run mark thanks to aggressive batting from Phil Salt.
Salt attacked pacer Auqib Nabi, hitting two boundaries and a six in one over that yielded 18 runs. The attacking intent helped RCB maintain a healthy scoring rate during the powerplay.
At the time of Kohli's dismissal, Salt remained at the crease and was joined by Devdutt Padikkal, with the pair looking to stabilise the innings and rebuild momentum.
DC opt to bowl first after winning toss
Earlier in the afternoon, Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel won the toss and elected to bowl first, aiming to take advantage of early movement on a slightly dry surface.
Delhi entered the match with an unchanged Playing XI despite coming into the contest on the back of consecutive defeats.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru, meanwhile, included Kohli in their starting lineup despite concerns around his fitness, indicating confidence in his availability for the full contest.
Landmark match for RCB at Chinnaswamy
The match also marked a significant milestone for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, as it was their 100th IPL fixture at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, one of the league's most iconic venues.
Over the years, the Bengaluru venue has been known for producing high-scoring encounters, making early wickets particularly valuable for bowling sides.
Kohli's dismissal shifted early momentum slightly in Delhi Capitals' favour, particularly given his importance at the top of the order.
However, with RCB already past the 50-run mark and plenty of batting depth still available, the contest remained evenly poised. Much would depend on how Salt and Padikkal managed the middle overs and whether Delhi could capitalise on the breakthrough.
With the Chinnaswamy pitch known to favour batters, the early wicket added an extra layer of intrigue to what was shaping up to be another high-scoring IPL encounter.
