Is Virat Kohli playing in IPL today? Schedule, next match, RCB 2023 stats for Indian Premier League star

The Sporting News

Is Virat Kohli playing in IPL today? Schedule, next match, RCB 2023 stats for Indian Premier League star image

Virat Kohli said his decision to return to Bengaluru more than a week before the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 was driven by his desire to see Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) fans greet the team for their first training session.

The cricket superstar was rewarded with a huge turnout in the stands at the 40,000-capacity M. Chinnaswamy Stadium home of his side, who would have made the 2022 final but for defeat to Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2 of the playoffs.

"It's one of the few things in recent years that I'm really, really excited about," Kohli admitted of his arrival, which was the subject of a video produced by the club.

When will Kohli next be in action? Here's his IPL fixture schedule, latest figures and history in the hugely popular league.

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Virat Kohli next IPL match

Kohli's next match with RCB is at home at the Chinnaswamy stadium against Delhi Capitals on Saturday, April 15.

Date Opponents Time (IST)
15/4/2023 Delhi Capitals (H) 3:30pm

Virat Kohli 2023 IPL fixture schedule

This page will be updated with the latest results for RCB as the IPL 2023 progresses.

Date Home Team Away Team Result Venue Time (IST)
2/4/2023 Royal Challengers Bangalore Mumbai Indians Won by 8 wickets Bengaluru 7:30pm
6/4/2023 Kolkata Knight Riders Royal Challengers Bangalore Lost by 81 runs Kolkata 7:30pm
10/4/2023 Royal Challengers Bangalore Lucknow Super Giants Lost by 1 wicket Bengaluru 7:30pm
15/4/2023 Royal Challengers Bangalore Delhi Capitals   Bengaluru 3:30pm
17/4/2023 Royal Challengers Bangalore Chennai Super Kings   Bengaluru 7:30pm
20/4/2023 Punjab Kings Royal Challengers Bangalore   Mohali 3:30pm
23/4/2023 Royal Challengers Bangalore Rajasthan Royals   Bengaluru 3:30pm
26/4/2023 Royal Challengers Bangalore Kolkata Knight Riders   Bengaluru 7:30pm
1/5/2023 Lucknow Super Giants Royal Challengers Bangalore   Lucknow 7:30pm
6/5/2023 Delhi Capitals Royal Challengers Bangalore   Delhi 7:30pm
9/5/2023 Mumbai Indians Royal Challengers Bangalore   Mumbai 7:30pm
14/5/2023 Rajasthan Royals Royal Challengers Bangalore   Jaipur 3:30pm
18/5/2023 Sunrisers Hyderabad Royal Challengers Bangalore   Hyderabad 7:30pm
21/5/2023 Royal Challengers Bangalore Gujarat Titans   Bengaluru 7:30pm

Virat Kohli 2023 IPL stats

This page will be updated after each match Kohli plays during the IPL 2023.

Innings Runs scored Average 4s 6s 50s 100s
3 164 82 13 9 2 0

Virat Kohli IPL history

Kohli may never have won the IPL with his team, but he's top of the charts on an individual level when it comes to run-scoring.

He was the junior member in a team featuring the likes of Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis and Anil Kumble, with Kevin Pietersen coming in as captain for the opening rounds of the 2009 campaign, where Kohli was unable to prevent RCB from subsiding to a six-run defeat against Deccan Chargers in the final.

Kohli's initial efforts in the IPL were unremarkable. Across 45 innings in his first three seasons he scored two half-centuries. However, his lavish talent was obvious and he was the only Bangalore player retained prior to the 2011 auction (teams could retain up to four players), after which he was named as vice-captain under Daniel Vettori.

In 2011, the dream line-up of Gayle, Kohli and De Villiers came together, with Virat scoring four fifties. The trio are ranked by the Sporting News as the three greatest men's T20 batters of all time.

MORE: Can RCB win IPL 2023? Previous form, strengths, weaknesses, team odds and player list for Royal Challengers Bangalore

Kohli couldn't find another as he hit 35 in the final amid RCB subsiding to a 58-run loss against Chennai Super Kings. Their dismal record in finals continued later that year when they suffered a defeat in the Champions League showpiece to Mumbai Indians, the illustrious Royal Challengers batting line-up rolled for 108.

Despite a disappointing 2012, Kohli was appointed as captain following Vettori's retirement. In a story that would become very familiar in India colours, the added responsibility brought the best out of Virat as he plundered 634 runs at an average of 45.28 and a strike rate of 138.73. Six half-centuries included 99 against Delhi Daredevils.

A first IPL century arrived in 2016 and, once it did, there was no stopping Kohli. That season, he scored four tons and seven fifties in an astounding haul of 973, averaging 81.08 and rattling along at a career-best strike rate of 152.03. It remains the most prolific campaign in IPL history and Kohli was awarded the Orange Cap as the league's Most Valuable Player.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Virat Kohli (@virat.kohli)

Gayle and Kohli came to the party with half-centuries in the 2016 final but the 209 Sunrisers Hyderabad set them again proved a bridge too far.

Kohli and RCB have failed to scale those heights since, falling in the playoffs in each of the past three seasons. In 2022, they were captained by Faf du Plessis after Kohli stepped down.

Last term, Kohli became the first player to pass 6,500 IPL runs and reached 7,000 overall in RCB colours. His recent return to form across all formats will have RCB fans hopeful that he can lead the franchise to the top this year.

RCB are the IPL's most noted bridesmaids, having finished as runners-up on three occasions in 2009, 2011 and 2016.


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