Former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif heaped praise on Virat Kohli after Royal Challengers Bengaluru secured a six-wicket win against Kolkata Knight Riders at Raipur on Wednesday in the ongoing IPL 2026.

Kohli scored a brilliant knock of 105 runs off just 60 balls in the run chase of 193, which is his ninth IPL century. The talismanic batter scored 11 fours and three sixes in his match-winning innings and was awarded Player of the Match.

The veteran also became the fastest batter to reach the milestone of 14000 T20 runs in his career during this knock. 

Kaif reckons playing with fun and enjoying his game has helped Kohli in bringing the best out of himself in his long career.

Kaif said on his YouTube Channel, “Virat Kohli was taking this lightly, playing with happiness [smile on his face]. He is present in the pitch before the umpires while Ajinkya Rahane’s team is in the huddle. He is excited to prove himself and show how batting is done. No other players would do that in the world. There would be doubt and panic in their minds. He celebrated his first run. Who can do that? Only one who believes in his game. He is playing for fun; he has achieved everything in the world. He became the first Indian to score 14,000 runs in T20 cricket.

“He got out on zero back-to-back. In the third match, if there was any other player in the world, one would’ve shaken in terms of body language; there would have been pressure. When he would’ve gone to bat, things might have played in their head that you have to avoid zero for the third time.”

The former UP batter reckons Kohli’s success is directly proportional to RCB’s success in the ongoing season.

“Whenever Virat Kohli hits 50 or more runs, RCB wins 100% of their matches while chasing. There’s a direct connection.”

RCB will next take on Punjab Kings at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala, on Sunday.