South African batting legend AB de Villiers has underlined the enduring influence of talisman Virat Kohli at Royal Challengers Bengaluru, describing him as the driving force behind the defending champions’ identity and success, both on and off the field.
As RCB prepare to begin their Indian Premier League 2026 campaign on March 28 against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, expectations remain high following their historic title-winning run last season.
Speaking about Kohli’s role within the setup, de Villiers emphasised that his impact extends far beyond runs on the board, highlighting the energy and belief he instils within the squad, particularly among younger players.
“Virat is definitely still the heartbeat of the franchise—not only through his performances and the consistency he has achieved with the bat over the years, but also through his presence and the energy he brings to the squad. The way he conducts himself on and off the field, always fighting for the team, stands out. He brings that energy and makes the youngsters believe that they can ultimately go on and win the trophy, which RCB did last year,” de Villiers told JioHotstar.
De Villiers also pointed to a key shift in RCB’s approach during their successful 2025 campaign, noting that the team moved away from over-reliance on a handful of players and instead thrived on collective contributions.
“What I liked about last season—yes, he was one of the main run-scorers in the team, as openers usually are—but there were other players who stepped in. In the past, RCB were often guilty of relying on just two, three, or four players performing consistently. This time, I felt the entire team chipped in,” he added.
Reflecting on the IPL 2025 final, where RCB secured their maiden title, de Villiers highlighted the importance of contributions from across the lineup, despite Kohli anchoring the innings.
“The final is a great example, with Virat scoring 43 runs off 35 balls. But it was actually Rajat Patidar, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma, and Romario Shepherd who scored at a high strike rate and helped the team post 190-plus, ultimately winning the game. Krunal Pandya also chipped in with the ball.”
He further stressed that a balanced squad has eased the burden on Kohli, allowing him to thrive in a more cohesive team environment.
“That’s my point—players contributing like that throughout the season, and the bowling attack stepping up. Virat can feel that; he can sense that he is not the only one carrying the load anymore. He has a squad of fighters around him, all gunning to win the trophy. I think they are in a really good place. It’s a similar squad—they didn’t have to change much—and they have good reason to believe they can go all the way again this coming season,” he said.