In a glowing tribute ahead of IPL 2026, AB de Villiers has dubbed Virat Kohli the lifeblood of Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The South African icon, speaking exclusively to ‘GeoStar’, underscored Kohli’s role beyond stats—his sheer presence energizes the team like no other.
Having played all 18 IPL seasons with RCB, Kohli embodies loyalty and leadership. De Villiers stressed, “He fills the team with new energy, especially motivating the youth to chase silverware, mirroring RCB’s 2025 championship triumph.”
The new season starts March 28 at Chinnaswamy Stadium, pitting RCB against Sunrisers Hyderabad. After shattering their trophy drought last year, Kohli and Co. aim to defend their crown amid massive fan anticipation.
“Virat remains RCB’s heartbeat,” de Villiers declared. “His consistency with the bat is legendary, but it’s his on-field demeanor and relentless fight that truly distinguish him. He convinces everyone victory is possible.”
De Villiers praised the 2025 evolution: from Kohli-centric wins to team-wide efforts. The final exemplified this—Kohli’s steady 43 off 35 was complemented by explosive knocks from Patidar, Livingstone, Jitesh, and Shepherd, pushing the total past 190. Krunal Pandya’s heroics with the ball proved decisive.
“The whole season showed balanced contributions, with a strengthening bowling unit,” de Villiers added. “Virat feels the support now. This battle-hardened squad needs minimal tweaks and is primed for another title run. They’re in an enviable position.”
Kohli’s influence promises to propel RCB towards IPL greatness once more.