Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will be a new participant in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 as the reigning champions, having been waiting many years to win a crown. RCB won the IPL in 2025 after losing disheartening finals in 2009, 2011 and 2016.
The great element that led to the end of the 17-year trophy drought was the former captain Virat Kohli, who had been a participant in all that irredeemable luck. RCB eventually secured their first championship by defeating Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the IPL 2025 final and this was the much-anticipated title. They will celebrate their first IPL 2026 match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on March 28. It was an optimistic unit but Kohli had pointed out that they also knew the level of the competition and the strain involved in games with high stakes.
“It was a very special night for all of us at RCB. I have been here since day one and so has Ramesh Mane [Team Masseur and Caretaker]. We are probably the oldest members of the RCB group,” said Kohli as quoted by Cricbuzz.
“When we reached the finals, I felt a sense of calm confidence. But you also understand it’s not going to be a cakewalk. It’s a Final and there is another team who has played really well to get there. Obviously, they have also beaten a lot of good sides so they are also very confident of what they want to do.”
Virat Kohli
Instead of weighing them down, Kohli said the team’s determination was enhanced by the previous setbacks. They were able to maintain composure throughout critical occasions thanks to their near misses. As the game drew to a close, Kohli acknowledged that it became really personal and that the outcome brought back a plethora of memories from his lengthy tenure with the team.
“Given the history of the near misses and the almost moments of the past where we reached the finals and we could not win. I think that gave us extra motivation to hold our nerve. Because the league has become so much more competitive, we must have played really good cricket to get to the finals. It’s not a fluke; it’s not by chance. We have beaten some really good teams, and we are an amazing team. Who have earned the right to be here on this day.”
Virat Kohli
“All in all, it was an amazing night for all of us. It was quite surreal for me honestly, quite unbelievable when it was all unfolding in the end. So many things flashed in front of your eyes. The whole journey for 18 years. All the ups and downs, all the good moments, bad moments. It’s like the accumulation of all of that is unfolding in front of you and that is going to happen in the next ten minutes. It’s a very difficult thing to explain. It’s a thing to experience. And that experience I will never ever forget.”
Virat Kohli
The veteran acknowledged that the hardest part of the evening was waiting for the final few balls in the last over. With 8661 runs at an average of 39.55 in 267 games, Virat Kohli is the IPL’s all-time top run scorer.
“Especially the last over where you know the game is sealed. Hoping that Josh [Hazlewood] doesn’t bowl a no ball which he never does. There was quite confidence but still as I said, you are hoping for the perfect result. So, knowing that the game is beyond them and then to wait for those last three balls was probably the toughest part of the night.”
Virat Kohli
