For first time ever in IPL, Virat Kohli utilised as Impact Player

NEW DELHI: For the first time in IPL history, Virat Kohli was used as an Impact Player, marking a rare tactical shift for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their clash against Lucknow Super Giants in Bengaluru.

Kohli, who has been a regular starter for RCB over the years, was not named in the playing XI due to an ankle injury he picked up in the previous game against Mumbai Indians.

However, he was brought in later as an Impact Player, highlighting how teams are increasingly using the rule to manage player fitness without fully dropping key stars.

Despite the unusual entry, Kohli looked in good touch once he got going. He played some fluent strokes, finding boundaries regularly and anchoring the innings during the middle phase.

Alongside Philip Salt, he had earlier formed a dependable opening combination this season, and his presence, even in a limited role, added stability to RCB’s batting.

However, his innings ended in heartbreak in the chase of 147. On 49, Kohli attempted to accelerate, going for a big shot against Avesh Khan. The timing wasn’t perfect, and the ball went straight into the hands of Nicholas Pooran at long-on. It marked the first time Kohli was dismissed on 49 in IPL history, denying him what looked like a certain half-century.

Earlier, RCB captain Rajat Patidar had opted to bowl first after winning the toss, saying, "We're gonna bowl first. It's pretty obvious. I see a pretty good surface."

On the other hand, LSG skipper Rishabh Pant remained confident about his side’s approach. "We're pretty confident, [it's a] good batting pitch. Regardless of whether we bat first or second, we need to do well," he said. RCB also made one change, bringing in Josh Hazlewood.