With IPL 2026 less than a week away, Virat Kohli has issued a rallying cry to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, urging them switch on from ball one and uphold the highest standards in their bid for a title defence.
RCB ended a 17-year wait for Indian Premier League glory last season, finally lifting the coveted trophy after several near-misses, including runners-up finishes in 2009, 2011 and 2016.
With the long-standing trophy drought now behind them, Kohli – the leading scorer in IPL history with 8661 runs in 267 matches – called on the squad to channel the same hunger and intensity that delivered their maiden crown.
“We worked really hard over the last two to three seasons to achieve what we did last year, and it’s only going to get tougher because other teams are going to come hard at us,” Virat Kohli said at the pre-season press conference in Bengaluru on Saturday.
“We don’t waste these days. We stay ahead. So switch on now. Let’s not waste even a minute of any session that we are a part of. We must give our 120 percent for these two and a half months.”
Virat Kohli was instrumental in RCB’s title run last year, scoring 657 runs during the campaign – averaging 54.75 and striking at 144.71. He was the leading scorer for his team and the third-highest overall for the season.
RCB will be aiming to become only the third team to retain the IPL title after Chennai Super Kings (2010, 2011) and Mumbai Indians (2019, 2020).
“There is one difference this year, we’ve got a star on our shirt,” RCB head coach Andy Flower said. “That’s a very proud feeling for all RCB fans. But that season is gone. Now we have a new challenge ahead, and it’s an exciting one. We’re here to win this year’s IPL.”
RCB will begin their title defence against Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 28 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
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