Legendary cricketer AB de Villiers believes that the modern-day Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) team is more than just Virat Kohli And 10 other players in the team.
De Villiers has credited the role of the entire team in helping RCB win its first Indian Premier League (IPL) title in 2025. He also acknowledged the contribution of players like Krunal Pandya, Liam Livingstone and Rajat Patidar in helping his team win in the mega finale. The showpiece game was proof of this rcb Much bigger than Kohli, which even the former captain will appreciate in 2026.
De Villiers said via JioStar, “The final is a great example, with Virat scoring 43 runs off 35 balls. But really it was Patidar, Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma and Romario Shepherd who scored at a high strike rate and helped the team score over 190, ultimately winning the game. Krunal Pandya also performed brilliantly with the ball.”
He said, “That's my point, the players have been contributing like this all season, and the bowling attack is stepping up. Virat can feel it, he can understand that he is not alone in carrying the load anymore. He has a team of fighters around him, who are ready to win trophies. I think they are in a really good place. It is a very similar team, they don't need to make too many changes, and they have good reason to believe that they can move forward again this coming season.” Can.”
Virat Kohli's work style is the best I have seen in my life: De Villiers
Based on their form from last season and keeping the same players for the new season, RCB is one of the favorites to retain the IPL title in 2026. However, Kohli's form will remain the main key to his success this time too. However, the 37-year-old has not played a professional game since mid-January when India played an ODI series with New Zealand.
de villiersHowever, he is not too worried about Kohli's lack of game time ahead of the IPL. The former RCB player is confident that the New Delhi-born player will be fully prepared and ready to lead his team to consecutive titles in 2026.
“First of all, his work ethic is the best I have ever seen in my life. So, he will not come into the tournament uncooked. If he doesn't play well, it will be purely down to bad form or maybe a technical error. I am expecting a great season from him. I can only imagine how excited he will be after getting a little rest,” said the former South African cricketer.
“Virat will definitely be ready, no doubt about that, and RCB can really go back-to-back. You remember him speaking about it often in the dressing room, 'If we can win one, we will soon win two, three, four.' I really believe in that. I think RCB are now in the zone where they can go bang, bang, bang, maybe two or three trophies in a row, who knows. I'm hoping for a really good start this season, I think it will be important for him. “My advice to Virat is to go out there and enjoy,” de Villiers said.
Outside the IPL, Kohli is only active in 50-over cricket. In his last 10 matches in the format, he has scored four centuries and recorded one score in the 90s. This included two back-to-back centuries and another century against South Africa in late 2025 new zealand In January. He also scored a brilliant century for Delhi against Andhra Pradesh in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26.
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