India, April 16 -- Virat Kohli has long been among the senior players critical of the Board of Control for Cricket in India's Impact Player rule, introduced in the Indian Premier League in 2023. At a time when peers like Rohit Sharma were used as Impact Players, and debates swirled around whether MS Dhoni could be deployed similarly, Kohli had made his stance clear last year within the Royal Challengers Bengaluru camp - he would rather "quit cricket" than play as one.

On Wednesday at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, that stance came full circle. A half-fit Kohli was named as an Impact Player for RCB's clash against Lucknow Super Giants, and went on to script a match-defining 49 that powered his side to a five-wicket win and the top of the tabl...