IPL 2026, RR vs RCB: Virat Kohli's warm-up electrifies Barsapara crowd - WATCH
Guwahati witnessed a frenzy for Virat Kohli before rain halted the IPL 2026 clash between Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Despite the delay, both teams arrive with winning momentum, boasting strong batting and pace attacks. Young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continues to impress with his aggressive batting, while Devdutt Padikkal shows significant improvement.
NEW DELHI: Virat Kohli mania swept through the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati ahead of the IPL 2026 clash between Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Fans waited eagerly for a glimpse of their superstar, and when he finally stepped out, the atmosphere transformed instantly. Around 20–30 minutes before the toss, Kohli, dressed in shorts and a T-shirt, walked out to the middle for his warm-up.
The moment he appeared, the stadium erupted, with deafening cheers of Kohli! Kohli echoing across the stands. However, the excitement was short-lived as players soon rushed back to the pavilion, with fans opening umbrellas as rain arrived and delayed the toss.
The forecast had looked promising earlier, but what began as a light drizzle quickly intensified, forcing the on-field umpires to call for covers. Initially, only the square was protected, but as the rain picked up, covers were spread across the entire ground. Rajasthan Royals come into the contest on a high, sitting atop the table after wins over Chennai Super Kings, Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians.
Meanwhile, Royal Challengers Bengaluru arrive with momentum of their own, having secured back-to-back victories against Sunrisers Hyderabad and Chennai. Both teams possess formidable batting line-ups, though Rajasthan appear slightly more balanced with the ball under the leadership of Riyan Parag. The pace departments on either side look equally threatening, with Jacob Duffy and Bhuvneshwar Kumar leading RCB’s attack, while Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger spearhead Rajasthan’s bowling.