IPL 2026, DC vs RCB Today Match: Royal Challengers Bengaluru batter Virat Kohli is likely to continue as an Impact Player in their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 clash against Delhi Capitals at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on April 18, as he continues to manage fitness concerns.
Kohli had sustained an ankle injury during RCB’s match against Mumbai Indians earlier in the season and has not been at full fitness since. The former RCB captain also revealed after the game against Lucknow Super Giants that he was still not fully fit.
“I’m still not 100%. My knee was a bit sore last game. Even health-wise, I’ve been under the weather for four or five days now. So, just getting back up to my best. I started off well today, so I was happy with my intensity. Again, would have liked to carry on and finish the game off,” Kohli said.
In that match, Kohli featured as an Impact Player — the first time he has done so since the rule was introduced — and did not take the field during the first innings. He later returned to open the batting and scored a composed 49 off 34 balls, helping RCB secure a comfortable win.
Providing an update ahead of the Delhi Capitals fixture, RCB pacer Josh Hazlewood confirmed that Kohli will play but hinted that his role could remain limited. “He’ll definitely play, it’s just about how much he can contribute in the field,” Hazlewood said. “He brings great energy and is one of our best fielders, so we’d love to have him fully out there. Knowing him, he’s not one to sit back, he always wants to be involved and make an impact,” he added.
With RCB in strong form this season and Kohli playing a key role in their batting lineup, the team management is expected to take a cautious approach. Using him as an Impact Player allows the franchise to maximize his batting contribution while reducing physical strain in the field.
Unless there is a significant improvement in his fitness, Kohli is expected to continue in the Impact Player role for at least one more match as a precaution.
RCB, who have lost just one match so far this season, will face Delhi Capitals in an afternoon fixture, with both teams looking to strengthen their positions on the points table.
