Virat Kohli (Image credit: BCCI/IPL)
NEW DELHI: In a candid reflection during the RCB Podcast, Virat Kohli opened up about the raw emotions of finally breaking the IPL championship jinx, RCB’s legacy, and why winning earlier in his career wouldn’t have felt a fraction as special.For 18 long years, RCB carried the pressure of being the “almost champions” of the IPL. No individual has experienced this mounting pressure more intensely than Virat Kohli. Reflecting on the breathtaking closing moments of last year’s final, he revealed the weight of expectation that was unburdened when the winning moment arrived. “It’s very difficult to explain to people in words how I felt in the last four balls of the last match,” Kohli said. “When you see from the outside what happened to the franchise, how RCB was seen for so many years as a big team, a big franchise that never won… It’s one thing to watch and one thing to live. And I’ve been through all those periods.” Kohli said during the podcast.Kohli, who began his IPL journey with the franchise as a teenager in the inaugural season in 2008 and was the only player retained by the management in 2011, noted that the decade of hearts actually heightened the joy of the eventual triumph.“I can say for sure, with complete honesty and clarity, it wouldn’t have been 5% of the feeling I had when we won it in earlier years,” Kohli conceded, pointing to the build-up of stress over nearly two decades. “For it to happen after 18 years, I couldn’t have had a better experience in my cricketing journey.” The historic win evoked an outpouring of pure emotion not only from Kohli but also from the franchise icons who have built RCB’s legacy over the years. Pictures of Kohli celebrating as a child alongside long-time teammates AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle quickly went viral.Kohli emphasized that the bond shared between the players and the city of Bengaluru goes far beyond professional contracts.“When people devote so much of their being to something, there is a very real and natural caring and emotional connection,” Kohli explained. “AB became an icon in India after he started playing for us … what he did for the team was beyond words. Things fell into place with Chris as well. He was sitting at home, they called him in the middle of the season, he’s having the season of his life and his life changed within a week of coming to Bangalore. So our franchise, our city, our team, our fans were about impacting people in a more natural way than anyone over the years.”Despite Gayle playing for other franchises later in his career, Kohli noted that the West Indian legend still has a “very soft spot for RCB” because of the impact the franchise and the city have on them.For the former Indian captain, the long title drought has completely changed the way he looks at success. He said his perspective evolved to understand the collective inspiration sports provide to fans or the public for a trophy. “To be in a position where you can really make a positive difference in people’s lives … It’s a phenomenal opportunity. It’s a great blessing.” Kohli concluded. Kohli also highlighted the evolving nature of the T20 format and how it has almost become a completely different game, not just a different format. He likened it to a high-intensity UEFA Champions League soccer match, where one moment can change the entire competition during the podcast.
