Not Rohit Sharma! Virat Kohli Picks The Only Indian Batter In His League

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in IPL (Source: : AFP and AP)

The IPL 2026 season has been a memorable one for young Indian cricketers, with several rising stars making headlines. However, veterans like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have once again shown why they remain among the biggest names in the tournament.

While Mumbai Indians (MI) have faced a disappointing campaign, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have looked like serious title contenders once again. 

In the middle of RCB's brilliant season, Virat Kohli grabbed attention for his recent comments in an RCB podcast involving Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul.

Virat Kohli and KL Rahul shine in IPL 2026

Both Virat Kohli and KL Rahul have enjoyed outstanding IPL 2026 campaigns so far. The RCB star player has been the backbone of RCB's batting lineup and is once again among the leading contenders for the Orange Cap in IPL 2026.

Virat has scored 484 runs in 12 innings at an average of 53.78 and a strike rate of 165.76. One of the biggest highlights of his season came against Kolkata Knight Riders, where he smashed an unbeaten 105 off just 60 balls. 

Meanwhile, KL Rahul has been equally impressive for Delhi Capitals. The stylish right-hander has scored 477 runs in 12 matches at an average of 43.36 and a strike rate of 177.98. 

Also Read: Not Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Or Abhishek Sharma! Virat Kohli Names The Craziest Performer Of IPL 2026

Virat Kohli picks KL Rahul as a classical batter

In a recent podcast released by RCB, Virat Kohli spoke openly about his mindset and journey, leadership in Test cricket, and his hopes for the 2027 ODI World Cup. 

During the conversation, he also discussed batting styles and explained that success in cricket can come in different ways.

Kohli mentioned that not every successful batter has a technically perfect game like AB de Villiers or Sachin Tendulkar. At the same time, he stated the importance of more traditional or classical players in modern T20 cricket.

Speaking on the podcast, Kohli said - 

"It's not like an AB de Villiers kind of, you know, everything aligned and just perfection. Not like a Sachin Tendulkar where the bat's coming down absolutely in a straight line. But people have found ways to succeed who have not had those kind of abilities or that kind of way to play the game. It's lovely for people to watch. It's great for the game. At the same time, you have opportunity for, say, more classical players like myself, Bhuvi, KL.

"KL, for example, for that matter. He's doing great things, you know, again in T20 cricket." Virat Kohli said. 

He named KL Rahul as a batter who belongs in the same classical category as himself.

Interestingly, Kohli did not mention Rohit Sharma during the discussion, something that quickly became a major talking point on social media.

RCB eyes top-two finish in IPL 2026

While Virat Kohli and RCB are enjoying another successful season, they are sitting comfortably at the top with 16 points under captain Rajat Patidar. After winning their maiden IPL title in 2025, the Bengaluru franchise has continued its strong momentum this year.

RCB will next face Punjab Kings on May 17 at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala. With two league matches still remaining (PBKS and SRH), the defending champions will aim to secure a top-two finish.

Even if RCB lose both their remaining matches or even one, they still have a strong chance of qualifying for the playoffs.

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