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On a pitch where Phil Salt and Rajat Patidar batted with 200-plus strike rates, Virat Kohli could manage 50 from 38 balls at a SR of 131.58 against Mumbai Indians in IPL 2026.
RCB's Virat Kohli returns to the pavilion after his dismissal against Mumbai Indians in IPL 2026. (PTI)Virat Kohli was not at all happy after despite scoring a fifty at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday. At a venue, which has been his happy hunting ground for most of his career - be it for national team or in the Indian Premier League (IPL) - the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batter couldn't pace his innings like he wanted to.
At a pitch where Phil Salt (78 from 36 balls) and Rajat Patidar (53 from 20 balls) batted with 200-plus strike rates, Kohli managed just 50 runs in 38 balls at a strike rate of 131.58. Certainly, the 37-year-old wasn't at his best like he started against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the tournament opener.
With Tim David standing on the sidelines all geared up, certainly the pressure was on Kohli. Kohli was dismissed while he took the aerial route against Hardik Pandya with Suryakumar Yadav taking a diving catch at the boundary in the 15th over.
The former RCB skipper was clearly not pleased with how his innings unfolded and threw his helmet and gloves on the ground in disgust while walking back to the dressing room. It must be noted that Kohli didn't even celebrate his fifty. which came in 37 balls.
Former New Zealand cricketer Simon Doull contemplated what might have transpired in the middle. The 56-year-old, on air said that the message from the RCB camp was clear with Davis standing on the sidelines. “Tim David is standing there. Wonder if Rajat Patidar has brought in a little message for Virat: Get on with it, or we might have to sub you out,” Doull said on air.
Had Kohli not gotten out, would have RCB taken a decision to retire him out and bring David on? Well, that's a question for the think-tank to answer.
Catch the live updates from IPL 2026 with the complete IPL 2026 Schedule and the IPL 2026 Points Table. Also, know who are currently leading the charts in IPL 2026 Orange Cap and IPL 2026 Purple Cap.
About the Author
Koushik Paul
Koushik lives and breathes sports. After transitioning from his own aspirations of becoming a professional athlete, he successfully channeled that lifelong passion into a prolific career, documenting the action both from the sidelines and the editorial desk. With over eight years of industry experience, Koushik joined LiveMint as a Deputy Chief Content Producer in 2024, following impactful stints at Outlook India, India.com, Sportskeeda, Women’s CricZone, and OrissaPOST. A 2017 Journalism and Mass Communication graduate from Maharaja Manindra Chandra College, Kolkata, Koushik has reported on high-profile events including the FIFA U17 World Cup 2017, Ranji Trophy, FIH Pro League, FIH World League finals, the Indian Premier League, and Lionel Messi’s historic visit to Kolkata in 2025. <br><br> While he possesses a versatile command over all sports, he finds his niche in cricket, specializing in breaking news, long-form interviews, global sporting updates, and high-energy live blogs. Koushik’s professional perspective was further sharpened through the 2020 AIPS Young Reporters Programme, where he gained invaluable insights from renowned international journalists, including Keir Radnedge and Riccardo Romani from the United Kingdom, and Martin Mazur from Argentina. Currently based between Kolkata and Delhi, Koushik remains at the forefront of the breaking developments that shape the public sporting discourse. When he isn't tracking scores or deconstructing plays, he can be found exploring new landscapes on his travels or channeling his creative energy into the kitchen. <br><br> If you have a compelling story to share or know an individual who deserves the spotlight, please reach out via email at <a href="koushik.paul@htdigital.in">koushik.paul@htdigital.in</a>.
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