Virat Kohli Opens Up on RCB’s First IPL Title After 18 Years of Heartbreak
Royal Challengers Bangalore has never before started an IPL campaign as a defending champion. The first time RCB made it to the finals was in 2009. The club then advanced to the final once again in 2011 before making it back to the finish line in 2016, at which point they lost on both occasions. Throughout the good and bad times associated with these running years, there has been one constant, “Virat Kohli”. Kohli has experienced all levels of both triumphs and defeats prior to this point. There were many people celebrating RCB’s first Premier League championship victory; however, Kohli finally had his moment of relief after a long wait.
"It was a very special night for all of us at RCB. I have been here since day one and so has Ramesh Mane [Team Masseur and Caretaker]. We are probably the oldest members of the RCB group," Kohli said ahead of the 2026 IPL season, revisiting the winning moments of 2025.
“It was an amazing and unforgettable night,” – Virat Kohli
Royal Challengers Bengaluru went into the final against Punjab Kings with confidence, but stayed calm. Virat Kohli said the team believed in themselves, but also respected the strength of their opponents and knew how tough a final can be.
"When we reached the finals, I felt a sense of calm confidence. But you also understand it's not going to be a cakewalk. It's a Final and there is another team who has played really well to get there. Obviously, they have also beaten a lot of good sides so they are also very confident of what they want to do."
"Given the history of the near misses and the almost moments of the past where we reached the finals and we could not win. I think that gave us extra motivation to hold our nerve. Because the league has become so much more competitive, we must have played really good cricket to get to the finals. It's not a fluke; it's not by chance. We have beaten some really good teams, and we are an amazing team. Who have earned the right to be here on this day."
"All in all, it was an amazing night for all of us. It was quite surreal for me honestly, quite unbelievable when it was all unfolding in the end. So many things flashed in front of your eyes. The whole journey for 18 years. All the ups and downs, all the good moments, bad moments. It's like the accumulation of all of that is unfolding in front of you and that is going to happen in the next ten minutes. It's a very difficult thing to explain. It's a thing to experience. And that experience I will never ever forget."
Even when the win looked almost sure, the tension was still there. Virat Kohli said the final over, especially waiting for the last few balls, was the most difficult part of the night.
"Especially the last over where you know the game is sealed. Hoping that Josh [Hazlewood] doesn't bowl a no ball which he never does. There was quite confidence but still as I said, you are hoping for the perfect result. So, knowing that the game is beyond them and then to wait for those last three balls was probably the toughest part of the night," recalled Kohli.
