The roar is returning to Bengaluru, and Virat Kohli is the one leading the charge. On Wednesday, defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru held their first official training session at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium ahead of IPL 2026. For a city still healing from the tragic stampede that claimed 11 lives last June, the sight of the 37-year-old Kohli in full flight provided a much-needed sense of normalcy.
The session, which lasted two hours before being truncated by rain, saw Kohli take on a leadership role alongside head coach Andy Flower, delivering a huddle pep talk before unleashing his trademark aggression in the nets.
Following his mid-2025 retirement from Test cricket, the veteran is now navigating life as a specialized limited-overs cricketer for India. Former all-rounder Irfan Pathan suggests this "one-format" focus could be a double-edged sword.
This time, things will be a little different. For the first time, he will play the IPL having completely retired from Test cricket. It is not easy for anyone... In T20s, when you play the aggressor and come in not having played a lot, it will be challenging. But he has faced many challenges before.
Irfan Pathan
Despite the lack of red-ball cricket, Kohli’s white-ball form remains terrifying. He enters the camp having smashed three hundreds in his last seven ODI innings since October 2025.
While the batting sounds were loud, the squad was far from full. Ongoing conflict in the Middle East has complicated international travel, leaving Jordan Cox as the only overseas recruit currently in Bengaluru. However, Director of Cricket Mo Bobat has reportedly mapped out contingency travel plans to ensure the rest of the foreign contingent arrives before the opener.
Rajat Patidar: The title-winning captain is expected to join the squad on Thursday.
Dinesh Karthik: The batting coach was missing from the opening session.
Yash Dayal: The left-arm pacer, retained for ₹5 crore, remains away as he deals with ongoing legal matters.
The most vital news for local fans is the official "green light" from State Home Minister G. Parameshwara. After months of suspense following the stadium's closure, the Chinnaswamy is now legally cleared to host five RCB home games (with two additional "home" fixtures shifted to Raipur).
However, the franchise has made the difficult call to scrap the popular ‘Unbox’ fan event this year. Between the tight schedule and the requirement for high-level safety mock drills on March 23 and 26, the management has prioritized security over spectacle.
Agression: Kohli has moved away from his "anchor" role, maintaining the high strike rate that defined RCB’s 2025 title run.
Local flavor: Karnataka's own Devdutt Padikkal is back in the RCB mix, training closely with Kohli in the opening nets.
Net strategy: RCB opted not to use external net batters, instead pitting their internal bowling unit, led by Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Krunal Pandya, against their top order.
