A viral video of the first net session of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on March 19, 2026 has surfaced. In the video, veteran fast bowler **Bhuvneshwar Kumar** was seen bowling a precise yorker which forced batting legend **Virat Kohli** to momentarily lose his balance and left him “completely stunned”. This ball was so strong that it was almost impossible to play; It swung late and dropped quickly, almost taking Kohli out. The incident highlights the intense competition going on within the defending champion team ahead of IPL 2026.
Bhuvneshwar, who joined RCB for Rs 10.75 crore ahead of the 2025 season, has cemented his place as a death-overs specialist and a master of swing. In IPL 2025, he contributed significantly to RCB’s historic maiden title win by taking key wickets (according to reports, he also performed brilliantly like economical bowling and breaking partnerships). This victory was against Punjab Kings in the final.
Kohli, who has been retained in the team as a key batsman (he is no longer the captain), is entering IPL 2026 in his best form. His performance at the international level has also been impressive, including impressive series against South Africa (302 runs) and New Zealand (240 runs), in which he scored several centuries. In IPL 2025, he scored the most runs for RCB; By scoring **657 runs** in 15 matches at a strike rate of **144.71**, he played an important role in the title win under the leadership of captain **Rajat Patidar**.
Patidar will remain the captain in 2026 and will lead the team’s campaign to repeat the title win. RCB will start their season on **March 28, 2026** against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Chinnaswamy Stadium (7:30 PM IST). After getting approval from the stadium, it has been decided that the team will play its five home matches in this stadium.
This yorker from Bhuvneshwar Kumar completely beat Virat Kohli.🫡
In the last two years, Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s name has gone a bit down, but maybe in this IPL he will definitely do something special.🙌 pic.twitter.com/L0bF9BsR0Z
— 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐢𝐢⁴⁵ (@rushiii_12) March 19, 2026
This clip highlights RCB’s strong preparations, which have a great combination of experience (Kohli, Bhuvneshwar) and youthful enthusiasm. Amidst speculations that some star players might miss the initial matches due to fitness or other reasons, this fierce clash in the nets sent a strong message to the opposing teams: The spirit of “Play Bold” is still intact as the defending champions are all set to win the title for the second consecutive time. Fans on social media appreciated its intensity, with many calling it a preview of upcoming IPL fixtures.
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