In preparation for IPL 2026, Virat Kohli led defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their first training session at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. The 37-year-old, along with head coach Andy Flower, motivated his teammates before engaging in a rigorous batting session against Venkatesh Iyer, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and the spinners group. Despite uncertainty with international flights, England’s Jordan Cox was the only foreign player present, engaging in a discussion with Kohli before joining the practice.
Notably absent were Rajat Patidar, Dinesh Karthik, and Yash Dayal. Karnataka’s Devdutt Padikkal, fresh from a successful Ranji Trophy campaign, partnered with Kohli in the nets. Unfortunately, the session was cut short due to rain after the duo finished their practice.
The return to training at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium held significance as it had been inactive since a tragic stampede last year. Finally approved to host IPL matches, the stadium will witness high-level cricket action starting on March 28 with RCB facing Sunrisers Hyderabad in the tournament opener. Published on Mar 18, 2026.
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