New Delhi, March 19: Former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) superstar AB de Villiers has praised Virat Kohli, calling him the foundation of the franchise. Kohli has played all 18 seasons for RCB. De Villiers emphasized that Kohli is crucial not only for his performance but also for the energy he brings to the team and his leadership qualities.
De Villiers believes that Kohli’s presence continually inspires the team, especially the younger players, further solidifying his legacy at RCB.
The IPL 2026 season is set to begin on March 28. The opening match will take place at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium, featuring RCB against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Following a stellar performance last year, expectations are high for Kohli and the franchise as they aim to defend their title.
In an interview with ‘GeoStar’, de Villiers stated, “Virat is undoubtedly still the heartbeat of this franchise. Not only because of his performance and remarkable consistency with the bat in recent years, but also due to his presence and the energy he brings to the team. His approach both on and off the field, and his relentless fighting spirit for the team, set him apart. He injects new energy into the squad and instills confidence in young players that they too can win trophies, just like RCB did last year.”
He added, “What I loved most about last season was that while Kohli was one of the main run-scorers, as openers often are, other players also stepped up to take responsibility. Previously, RCB relied heavily on just two, three, or four players performing consistently, but this time, the entire team contributed.”
RCB ended their trophy drought by winning the IPL 2025 title. De Villiers noted, “The final is a perfect example. In that match, Virat scored 43 runs off 35 balls. However, it was players like Patidar, Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma, and Romario Shepherd who scored quickly and helped the team post over 190 runs, leading to their victory. Krunal Pandya also made significant contributions with the ball.”
He continued, “What I mean is that players are contributing like this throughout the season, and the bowling attack is becoming stronger. Virat can feel that the burden is not solely on him anymore. He has a team of fighters around him, all ready to win trophies. I believe they are in a very good position. It’s almost the same team, with minimal changes needed, and they have every reason to believe they can achieve victory again in the upcoming season.”
My name is Himanshu Tiwari. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including TECHNOLOGY, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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