Virat Kohli reflects on Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s emotional maiden IPL title, calling it the culmination of years of near-misses, resilience, and an unforgettable journey.
For the first time in IPL history, Royal Challengers Bengaluru head into a season as defending champions, marking a significant milestone for a franchise that had previously fallen short in finals in 2009, 2011, and 2016.
At the heart of this long journey has been Virat Kohli, the only constant through years of near-misses and rebuilding phases. When the title finally came in 2025, it symbolised not just victory, but the culmination of years of perseverance and emotional investment.
“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,” Kohli said ahead of the 2026 IPL season, revisiting the winning moments of 2025.
Kohli On Lessons from Past Finals
RCB approached the final against Punjab Kings with a balanced mindset—confident yet grounded. Kohli highlighted that while belief within the squad was strong, there was also full respect for the opposition’s strength and the pressure of a final.
“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.”
He also acknowledged that previous heartbreaks played a key role in shaping the team’s mentality, helping them stay composed in crunch situations.
“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.”
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Emotional Climax and Unforgettable Moments
As the final edged towards its conclusion, Kohli described the experience as deeply emotional, with memories from his 18-year journey flooding back in a defining moment of his career.
“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.”
Despite the result appearing certain in the closing stages, the tension lingered until the very end. Kohli admitted that the final over tested his nerves the most.
“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,” recalled Kohli.
With the long-awaited title finally secured, RCB now begin IPL 2026 carrying both confidence and the weight of expectations as champions.
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