New Zealand fast bowler Kyle Jamieson offered high praise for Virat Kohli following the Indian star's match-winning knock of 93 in the first ODI against New Zealand in Vadodara. Jamieson, who was Kohli's teammate at Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in 2021, acknowledged that Kohli operates at a level superior to most of his contemporaries, emphasizing the challenge he presents to opposing teams.
Jamieson noted that facing Kohli requires an opposition to be at their absolute best just to compete, highlighting the consistent quality the veteran batter brings to the crease. While admitting that containing a player of Kohli's caliber is nearly impossible, Jamieson praised the way Kohli controlled the tempo during India's successful chase of 301. Kohli's innings, featuring eight fours and a six, anchored the middle phase and set up the victory for the Men in Blue.
This endorsement from a former RCB teammate underscores Kohli's enduring influence and class, even as he enters the later stages of his career. Kohli's performance earned him the Player of the Match award, further cementing his reputation as one of the game's greatest chasers.
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“He's on a different level, he plays the game on a different level to most cricketers, (and) he looked pretty good for the most part. We will just have to try and come up with some plans to try and contain him, but (then) you don't contain the greats, they have their way a little bit, so just enjoyed watching him play for sure.”
The greatest run-scorers in IPL history across all seasons
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| Statistic |
|---|
Royal Challengers Bangalore Most Runs Career Leaders | Team Rankings Led by Virat Kohli (8661 runs) |
Most Sixes - Career Led by Rohit Sharma (302 sixes) |
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The veteran, after retiring from the other forms, continues to dictate 50-over cricket. Kohli’s return to the No. 1 spot comes on the back of a consistent run in the 50-over format, where he has continued to anchor India’s batting with trademark control and composure.
Waha pe dekh mera duplicate baitha hai (Look over there, my duplicate is sitting), was what Virat said to Rohit Sharma as per the fan.
"RCB will play five matches in Navi Mumbai, and two matches in Raipur during IPL 2026. The RCB officials have finalised the arrangement recently after meetings with the concerned officials,"

“He's on a different level, he plays the game on a different level to most cricketers, (and) he looked pretty good for the most part. We will just have to try and come up with some plans to try and contain him, but (then) you don't contain the greats, they have their way a little bit, so just enjoyed watching him play for sure.”