Before their critical IPL 2025 match against Sun Risers Hyderabad, Virat Kohli was spotted relaxing with his wife, Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma, by playing pickleball. Kohli and his wife were joined by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) teammates and support staff, including Dinesh Karthik and his wife, Dipika Pallikal. Kohli was casually dressed in a blue oversized T-shirt and shorts, looking very relaxed while enjoying the game. The light-hearted session took their minds away from the busy cricket schedule and encouraged the camaraderie they displayed in the RCB camp.

RCB's official Instagram account captured glimpses of the fun, featuring the bowling wizard Bhuvneshwar Kumar, head coach Andy Flower, director of cricket Mo Bobat, and West Indies all-rounder Romario Shepherd. Everyone was happy, enjoying playing and joking around on the turf. The team get-together on the pitch indicates that they are together off the pitch, and are trying to keep their minds as fresh as possible before a game filled with pressure. As the league continues to wind down, these moments of unintended time away from the pressure moments are key for the players, after the period of pressure they have had, and allowing them to mentally reset.

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Originally scheduled as RCB’s final home game, the match against SRH has now been shifted to Lucknow’s Ekana Stadium due to unfavorable weather in Bengaluru. The city’s ongoing rain disruptions had already led to abandoning RCB’s previous match against Kolkata Knight Riders, which was called off without a toss. With weather uncertainty looming large over South India, the BCCI opted for a venue change to ensure uninterrupted play. This shift in location adds a new twist to RCB’s campaign as they continue their push for playoff contention.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@royalchallengers.bengaluru)

Virat Kohli has been prolific in IPL 2025

After a short suspension of the IPL 2025 season for a week, RCB are back in action after their previous game against the Kolkata Knight Riders was rained off after a single ball bowled, and they have earned 17 points from 12 games, progressing to the Playoffs. RCB will be under pressure in the final two league matches to remain in the top two to get an additional opportunity in the playoffs and better the pathway to obtaining their maiden IPL title.

Virat Kohli will be expected to maintain his tremendous form after the break. The star batter has scored 505 runs in 11 innings at an average of 63.12 and has a strike rate of 143.46, with seven half-centuries, which includes just one duck. With RCB hoping for a top-two finish, Kohli's consistency at the crease will be vital as they achieve the momentum needed as they advance into the knockout stages. He's done enough this season to put RCB in a position to make it to the championship round, should they make it.