RCB wicketkeeper batsman Jitesh Sharma picked Virat Kohli as the most likely Orange Cap winner in the upcoming season of IPL. He also made some wild predictions about the top four teams in the points table, as he ruled the five-time champions out of yet another playoff spot.
IPL 2025 ended with one of the most unexpected finishes, as Royal Challengers Bangalore won their first IPL title. The Challengers were recently purchased by their new owners, the Birla Group. They will try to defend their title in the upcoming season.
Once again the Royal Challengers will be led by their captain Rajat Patidar. The team will include all the star players from last season, along with some useful players this season, including former KKR vice-captain Venkatesh Iyer and young Indian talent Mangesh Yadav.
RCB keeper predicts record-breaking season for Virat Kohli
Royal Challengers Bangalore wicketkeeper batsman 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.
They asked him about the Orange Cap holder till the end of the season and the Indian cricketer did not hesitate even for a second as he picked RCB veteran Virat Kohli as the best batsman till the end of the IPL season.
Jitesh Sharma believes that Virat Kohli, who has performed brilliantly with the bat for India in the home ODI series against South Africa and New Zealand, will score the most runs this season. He further predicted that Virat Kohli’s indispensable form could help him break his own record of 973 runs in a single IPL season.
Jitesh Sharma predicts India’s worst World Cup bowler to become Purple Cap winner in 2026
Last season saw RCB vice-captain Jitesh Sharma play a major role in their success. The Challengers wicketkeeper served as a key finisher for the team, playing several cameos for them. He will be vital for them in the role this season, especially with Tim David lacking form this IPL.
Sharma was also asked to predict the best bowler in the IPL. He was asked his opinion on the Purple Cap winner. Jitesh predicted that Varun Chakravarthy could be the Purple Cap winner for this season.
The KKR star has been one of India’s standout performers in the T20Is and has also been one of the leading wicket-takers for KKR in the IPL. However, Chakraborty’s recent form saw a big drop in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.
Jitesh Sharma’s absurd top-4 predictions
Finally, podcast host Ranveer Allahbadia asked Jitesh Sharma for his opinion on the last four spot in the IPL 2026 points table. He didn’t hesitate much as he picked his own team, the defending champions, RCB, to be one of the top 4 teams going into the playoffs.
He then predicted the other two teams in the top 4. He chose his former team and last season’s runners-up, Punjab Kings, and five-time champions Mumbai Indians, who were also among the top four teams last season.
Finally, he took the Sunrisers Hyderabad side as the fourth franchise in the IPL points table. Last time the SRH team missed out on a place in the playoffs; However, the recent form of players like stand-in captain Ishan Kishan will boost the team’s chances.
Also Read: BCCI Secretary reveals the date to announce the schedule of the second part of IPL 2026
