Indian star Virat Kohli shares a video on Instagram giving a peek into his IPL 2026 preparations

Virat Kohli (Pic; Instagram)

Indian star Virat Kohli has started getting ready for the Indian Premier League 2026 season. Videos of the former captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) working out in the nets have gone viral on social media.

Kohli posted a reel on Instagram where the 37-year-old was seen working hard during a practice session, concentrating on batting as he prepares for the IPL season. Fans flooded the comments section in anticipation of the 19th edition of IPL.

Virat Kohli is an all-time IPL great, having scored 8661 runs in 267 matches and 259 innings in IPL history. The former Indian skipper has a strike rate of 132.85 and an average of 39.54, along with eight centuries and 63 half-centuries in the competition.

The seasoned batsman scored 657 runs at an average of 54.75 in 15 games during the 2025 season, helping Bengaluru win their first IPL championship. With a strong strike rate of 144.71, Kohli amassed eight half-centuries.

On March 8, broadcaster Star Sports confirmed that the upcoming season of the IPL will officially kick off on March 28; however, the IPL fixtures are yet to be announced. RCB will be the defending champions after their maiden title win in 2025.

RCB set to play five games at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium

Santosh Menon, the secretary of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), said earlier this month that five of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 home games will take place at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Additionally, he announced that one of the tournament's play-off games and the IPL 2026 final will be held at the location.

RCB's two home matches will be held at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Raipur, Chhattisgarh.

Since June of last year, cricket at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium has been suspended due to a stampede that resulted in 11 fatalities and multiple injuries during RCB's IPL 2025 title celebration.

The stadium did not hold any matches at the recently finished ICC T20 World Cup and the ICC Women's World Cup. This suspension of the iconic venue has also impacted domestic and state franchise-based competitions.

(With ANI inputs)