Is Virat Kohli Injured? The RCB star was spotted resting in the dressing room and not on the field during MI’s chase in the MI vs RCB IPL 2026 match at Wankhede Stadium on April 12, with commentator Simon Doull confirming on air that Kohli has suffered a lower ankle injury.
The Virat Kohli ankle injury adds a layer of concern to what was already a frustrating night for the former India captain. Kohli scored 50 off 38 balls in RCB’s first innings total of 240 — a half-century he did not celebrate — before being dismissed by Hardik Pandya in the 14th over, visibly furious as he walked off throwing his gloves and helmet in disappointment.
(updating as the MI vs RCB match progresses)
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Why Is Virat Kohli Not On The Field?
Why is Virat Kohli not on the field? Virat Kohli was not on the field during MI’s chase of 241, instead resting in the RCB dressing room. The reason is a lower ankle injury that was first revealed by Simon Doull during the commentary.
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri added on air that Kohli was not in his best health today — a comment that retrospectively explains much of what fans watched during the first innings. Kohli’s movement at the crease looked restricted, his timing was off for large portions of his knock, and he was uncharacteristically slow in rotating strike during the middle overs.
The Virat Kohli injury update is particularly concerning because the ankle is central to a batter’s footwork, balance, and ability to transfer weight through shots. It would explain why Kohli managed just 30 runs off his last 27 balls after a brisk start, struggling to find the timing that Phil Salt and Rajat Patidar were displaying at the other end.
Is Virat Kohli Injured? What We Know So Far
The exact moment when Kohli sustained the lower ankle injury has not been confirmed. It is unclear whether the injury occurred during RCB’s batting innings or was a pre-existing issue that worsened during the match. What is clear from the broadcast is that Kohli was in the dressing room rather than on the field during the second innings — a highly unusual sight for a player known for his intensity in the field.
There has been no official Virat Kohli injury update from RCB yet. The franchise has not confirmed the severity of the ankle issue or whether it will affect his availability for upcoming matches.
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Kohli’s Frustrating Knock Before The Injury Concern
The Virat Kohli ankle injury context makes his first-innings performance look different in hindsight. Kohli opened with Phil Salt and started briskly — 20 off 11 balls after four overs, including a flicked six off Trent Boult in the first over. But from there, his innings stalled.
While Salt raced to 78 off 36 and Patidar smashed the fastest fifty of his career in 17 balls after walking in, Kohli’s strike rate dropped sharply. He managed 38 off 30 at one stage before eventually reaching his fifty in 37 balls — a milestone he greeted with no celebration at all.
Kohli’s frustration was evident throughout. He burned both of RCB’s DRS reviews on wide appeals — the first against Santner in the ninth over, the second against Hardik in the 14th — leaving RCB with no reviews for the remainder of the innings. When Hardik eventually dismissed him, caught at long-on for 50 off 38, Kohli’s reaction was telling. He threw his gloves and helmet in visible anger, clearly unhappy with how the innings had played out.
On a pitch where Salt, Patidar, and Venkatesh Iyer were striking freely, Kohli’s inability to dominate stood out — and the ankle issue may well be the reason behind it.
How Does The Virat Kohli Ankle Injury Update Affect RCB?
Despite Kohli’s struggles, RCB posted 240 — a total that underlines the depth of their batting. But the Virat Kohli injury update is a concern that extends beyond this match.
RCB are currently third on the IPL 2026 table and firmly in the playoff race. Kohli remains their most important batter across the season, and any absence — even a match or two — would be significant. The defending champions have already been managing Josh Hazlewood’s workload through the early part of IPL 2026. Adding a Kohli fitness concern to the mix would stretch RCB’s resources further.
An official update from the RCB camp is expected after the match. We will update this piece as more information on the Virat Kohli ankle injury becomes available.
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