Virat Kohli Denies Chartered Flight Requests for IPL 2026 Season
Indian cricket icon and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batting maestro Virat Kohli has firmly dismissed recent media reports suggesting he asked the RCB management for access to chartered flights between India and London during the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. The rumors, which had circulated widely, claimed that Kohli, who has been residing in London with his family in recent years, sought permission to fly back to the UK during gaps of more than three days between matches.
Social Media Response Puts Rumors to Rest
Taking to his Instagram story, Kohli shared one of these reports accompanied by laughing emojis, clearly indicating that the claims are baseless and unfounded. This public rebuttal has effectively quashed the speculation, reaffirming his commitment to the team and the tournament. The IPL 2026 season is set to kick off on March 28, with defending champions RCB facing Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Bengaluru.
Kohli's Stellar Career and Upcoming Milestones
Fresh off securing his first IPL title in his 18th season with RCB, Kohli is poised for another explosive performance with the bat. Currently, he boasts 8,661 runs in 267 IPL matches, including eight centuries and 63 fifties. He is on the verge of becoming the first player in IPL history to reach the 9,000-run milestone. Additionally, with 9,085 runs in 282 matches for RCB across the IPL and the now-defunct Champions League T20, Kohli is just one extraordinary season away from achieving 10,000 runs for a single IPL team in all of T20 cricket.
In T20 internationals, Kohli has amassed 13,543 runs in 414 matches, featuring nine centuries and 105 fifties. He is also closing in on joining an elite group of players in the 14,000-run club in T20 cricket, which includes West Indies legends Chris Gayle (14,562 runs) and Kieron Pollard (14,482 runs), England's Alex Hales (14,449 runs), and Australian star David Warner (14,028 runs).
Recapping Kohli's Recent IPL Performance
In the previous IPL season, Kohli demonstrated his formidable form by scoring 657 runs in 15 innings at an impressive average of 54.75 and a strike rate of 144.71. He notched eight fifties, finishing as RCB's leading run-scorer and the third-highest overall in the tournament. As the new season approaches, fans and statisticians alike are eagerly anticipating another record-breaking campaign from the cricketing superstar.
