RCB wicket-keeper batter Jitesh Sharma picked Virat Kohli as the most probable Orange Cap winner in the upcoming season of the IPL. He also made some wild predictions about the top four teams in the points table, as he sidelined the five-time champions from another playoff spot.
The IPL 2025 ended with one of the most unpredictable finishes, as the Royal Challengers Bengaluru won their first-ever IPL title. The Challengers were recently bought by their new owners, the Birla Group. They will look to defend their title in the upcoming season.
Once again, the Royal Challengers will be led by their skipper Rajat Patidar. The team will feature all of their star players from the last season, with some useful additions this season, which include former KKR vice-captain Venkatesh Iyer and young Indian talent Mangesh Yadav.
Your daily dose of cricket!
RCB keeper predicts a record-breaking season for Virat Kohli
Royal Challengers Bengaluru wicket-keeper batter Jitesh Sharma was seen in a podcast with YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia, where the host asked him to make some predictions before the end of the podcast session.
He asked him about the Orange Cap holder by the end of the season, and the Indian cricketer did not hesitate for a second as he picked RCB veteran Virat Kohli as the best batter by the end of the IPL season.
Jitesh Sharma believed that Virat Kohli, who has had a stunning season with the bat for India in the home ODI series against South Africa and New Zealand, would go on to score the most this season. He further predicted that Virat Kohli’s inevitable form might help him break his own record of 973 runs in a single season of the IPL.
Jitesh Sharma predicts India’s worst WC bowler as Purple Cap winner in 2026
Jitesh Sharma, the RCB vice-captain, was seen playing a major role in their success last season. The Challengers’ wicketkeeper functioned as a major finisher for the team, having played many cameos for them. He will be important for them in the role this season, especially with Tim David lacking form coming into this IPL.
Sharma was also asked to predict the Best bowler in the IPL. He was asked his opinion on a purple cap winner. Jitesh predicted that Varun Chakravarthy might be the purple cap winner for this season.
The KKR star has been one of India’s most standout performers in T20Is and has also been one of the highest wicket-takers for KKR in the IPL. However, Chakravarthy’s recent form saw a major dip in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.
Jitesh Sharma’s wild Top-4 predictions
Lastly, the podcast host Ranveer Allahbadia asked Jitesh Sharma for his opinion on the final four spot in the IPL 2026 Points Table. He did not hesitate much as he picked his own side, the defending champions, RCB, to be one of the top 4 sides walking into the playoffs.
He then went on to predict the other two sides in the top 4. He picked his former side and runners-up from the last season, the Punjab Kings and five-time champions Mumbai Indians, who were also among the top four teams in the last season.
Lastly, he sided with the Sunrisers Hyderabad as the fourth franchise in the IPL points table. The SRH team missed out on their playoff spot the last time; however, with the recent form of players like stand-in skipper Ishan Kishan, the team’s chances will increase.
ALSO READ: IPL 2026 second-half schedule announcement date revealed by BCCI secretary