Virat Kohli appreciates RCB's depth for back-to-back IPL titles: I don't have to do it all anymore

Virat Kohli has credited Royal Challengers Bengaluru with depth and balance for their second consecutive IPL title, saying that for the first time in his long association with the franchise, he no longer feels the pressure of doing it alone.

Kohli played an unbeaten 75 off 42 balls as RCB chased down Gujarat Titans 155 for 8 with easethus sealing a five-wicket victory in the IPL 2026 final in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

RCB’s dominance throughout the season culminated in another title-winning run and Kohli said the biggest difference was the team’s confidence in their collective abilities.

“This group means everything. We’ve had to wait a long time for this. The strange thing is when you step on the pitch you don’t feel like you have to be the one to come on every time. There are players all around you who can win games for the team. All season we’ve had Man of the Match performances spread across the whole squad. You look at the quality we’ve got – this season you can top class players, batting and Rahida has always been great. everyone too they contributed,” Kohli said after RCB clinched their second consecutive IPL crown.

IPL 2026 FINALS: MAIN | SCORECARD

The 37-year-old player once again took on the role of anchor perfectly in the final. After Venkatesh Iyer helped RCB get off to a flying start, Kohli made sure the chase never slipped even though it faltered briefly in the middle overs.

RCB raced to 70 for 2 in the Powerplay before losing a cluster of wickets. But Kohli stood firm, bringing up his fifth half-century of the season and remaining unbeaten till the end when he completed the chase with a six off Arshad Khan.

Looking ahead to the campaign, Kohli said this season was never under as much pressure as the previous one because the players believed in the quality in the team.

“I told a few of the lads that it’s not as much pressure as last year. We knew the ability we had in this group. We finished top of the table for a reason and we got here first for a reason. We kept telling ourselves one thing – if we stick to our cricket and execute our plans, we’re the best team in the competition. That’s why we’ve done so well in the league stage and the better sets we have at the top level. group, came through today evening again. It was a clinical performance, not just tonight but throughout the tournament,” added Kohli.

RCB’s road to the title was not entirely straightforward. The side struggled briefly after the mid-season break, but Kohli said the crucial win over Mumbai Indians rekindled the belief in the dressing room.

“To be fair, we had a difficult period after the break. We lost the game and then we won narrowly against MI. That week was important because we wanted to finish on top. Once we won against MI, the belief came back. Then we had a comprehensive win against KKR, we finished top of the table and carried that momentum into the final,” he said.

Kohli said the success was ultimately due to the balance and depth that RCB had built over the past two seasons.

“I am so happy to be part of a group that has balance, strength and depth. We are a strong all-round team and that is where our confidence comes from. That is why we have been able to achieve what we have,” Kohli further said.

For a player who has often been the face of RCB’s successes and failures over the years, Sunday’s triumph had a different meaning. Kohli once again delivered when it mattered most but made it clear that this title is not about one player. It was about a team that bounced back from the start, topped the league table and finished a dominant campaign with a clinical performance in the final.

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Issued by:

Saurabh Kumar

Published on:

31 May 2026 23:55 IST