Manoj Tiwary believes that while Virat Kohli may feel a hint of pressure due to limited game time, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru star continues to justify his stature with consistent performances. Speaking ahead of RCB’s marquee clash, Tiwary highlighted how Kohli’s presence alone lifts the belief within the dressing room.

Kohli entered IPL 2026 with minimal match exposure, having featured in just three ODIs against New Zealand earlier this year before heading to England and eventually joining the Royal Challengers Bengaluru squad. Despite the lack of recent competitive cricket, Kohli looked in complete control in the season opener, smashing an unbeaten 69 to guide RCB to victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad.

“There will be at least a little bit of pressure because he hasn’t played much,” Manoj Tiwary said. “But he always comes with proof of why he is Virat Kohli. As long as he is at the crease, there is always belief in the dugout.”

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Tiwary also pointed out the impact of Devdutt Padikkal, whose positive start to the season has helped ease pressure on the batting unit. “The way Padikkal released pressure in the last match made a huge difference,” he added.

Kohli’s record against the Chennai Super Kings further strengthens RCB’s confidence heading into the contest. The former captain has scored 1146 runs in 34 innings against CSK at an average of 38.2, including a blistering 62 off 33 balls in their last meeting at home.

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On the other hand, Manoj Tiwary expressed concerns over Ruturaj Gaikwad captaincy, with CSK enduring a difficult run of results. “The issue isn’t with the playing XI,” Tiwary observed. “They could have explored options like Prashant Veer or Shivam Dube when the main bowlers were leaking runs.”

As the high-profile clash approaches, Kohli’s form and Gaikwad’s leadership will remain key talking points.