AB de Villiers backs Royal Challengers Bengaluru to defend their IPL 2026 title, expressing confidence in Virat Kohli and predicting a potential era of dominance.
Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru are set to begin their campaign in the Indian Premier League 2026 season on March 28 under the leadership of Rajat Patidar. The franchise finally ended its long-standing wait for an IPL trophy last year by defeating Punjab Kings in a thrilling final.
Former RCB star AB de Villiers, who was present at the title-winning moment at the Narendra Modi Stadium, celebrated alongside Virat Kohli, who was visibly emotional after the historic triumph.
De Villiers Dismisses Concerns Over Kohli’s Form
With Kohli now focusing on limited-overs cricket after stepping away from Tests and T20Is, questions have emerged about potential rustiness. However, De Villiers strongly backed his former teammate, highlighting his unmatched work ethic and preparation.
“First of all, he (Kohli) has the best work ethic I have ever seen in my life,” the former South African captain said on JioHotstar. “So, he will not enter the tournament undercooked. If he doesn’t perform, it will purely be down to form or perhaps a technical issue. I am expecting a great season from him. I can only imagine how hyped he must be after getting some well-deserved rest.”
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Back-to-Back Titles for RCB
De Villiers believes that breaking the title drought could mark the beginning of a dominant phase for RCB in the IPL. He suggested that the team now has the momentum and belief to win multiple titles in quick succession.
“Virat will most definitely be ready, there is no doubt about that, and RCB can actually go back-to-back. You will remember him often saying in the dressing room, ‘If we can win one, we are going to win two, three, four quickly,'” he said.
“I truly believe that. I feel RCB are in that zone now where they can go bang, bang, bang — perhaps two or three trophies in a row. Who knows? I am just hoping for a really strong start this season; that will be crucial for them. My advice to Virat would be to just go out there and enjoy,” he added.
RCB will open their IPL 2026 campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad, aiming to build on their historic success and establish a new era of dominance in the league.
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