IPL Returns to Raipur: Revisiting Virat Kohli’s Heroics In The City’s Last Match In 2016

Last time when Raipur hosted an IPL match. [Source - BCCI.tv/ Virat Kohli Facebook]

The return of RCB to the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium has brought a wave of relief and joy to the RCB’s passionate supporters. For months, uncertainty surrounded the venue after last year June’s unfortunate stampede put it under heavy scrutiny and left its immediate future hanging in the balance.

But this homecoming carries a twist. While five RCB home matches of the IPL 2026 season will unfold in M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, the team will also play two home games in Raipur, bringing IPL back to the Chhattisgarh capital after ten long years.

And whenever Raipur and the IPL are mentioned together, memories drift back to 2016, the last time the city hosted a league encounter. It was a night that still lives vividly in fans’ hearts, thanks largely to the brilliance of Virat Kohli, who turned the evening into something unforgettable.

What Happened When Raipur Last Hosted an IPL Match?

With Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium set to host IPL cricket again for the first time since 2016, one question keeps surfacing, when was the last time Raipur staged an IPL match, and what truly unfolded that night?

Raipur has hosted six IPL games till date between 2013 and 2016, serving as the second home venue for the then Delhi Daredevils [Delhi Capitals now]. The city embraced the IPL warmly, creating memorable evenings during its brief but significant association.

The last IPL match in Raipur was played on May 22, 2016, when Delhi Daredevils met RCB during the season when Virat Kohli was unstoppable. With a playoff berth at stake, RCB arrived desperate for a win, and Kohli once again delivered, anchoring the chase with a remarkable innings to cap off Raipur’s IPL chapter memorably.

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When the Big Screen in Raipur Lit Up with ‘RCB KOHLI-FIES TO THE PLAYOFFS’

The last time the IPL graced Raipur, RCB arrived to the DD vs RCB clash on the back of three commanding wins, needing one more to seal a playoff berth. Virat Kohli was unstoppable, smashing 109, 75* and 113 in consecutive must-win games, determined to carry RCB over the line one final time in the league stage.

After choosing to bowl, RCB choked the Daredevils to a modest 138. Yuzvendra Chahal led the charge with three wickets, while Chris Gayle also chipped in with two wickets. In reply, RCB began the chase poorly, with Gayle and AB de Villiers falling early inside the powerplay. However, Kohli stood firm as he stitched a 66-run stand with KL Rahul, reviving hopes with his fourth straight fifty.

RCB chased down the target in 18.1 overs, sealing their qualification for the playoffs in style. The big screen at Raipur lit up with "RCB KOHLI-FIES TO THE PLAYOFFS," a moment that still resonates with fans. It was a thrilling display of determination, one that Kohli and RCB supporters will never forget.

RCB Seek Magic in Raipur Again in IPL 2026

After that unforgettable night in Raipur, RCB rode the momentum all the way to the IPL 2016 final, but unfortunately fell to a heartbreaking eight-run defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad. The dream run fell just short, but the fire of 2016 etched belief into the franchise’s identity forever.

Fast forward to IPL 2026, RCB return to Raipur as defending champions after lifting their maiden title in 2025, this time as hosts with two home games to be played. With Kohli carrying echoes of his 973-run heroics, they chase that familiar magic again, determined not just to relive history, but to defend their crown..

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