'Still the heartbeat of RCB' - Virat Kohli gets praises from AB de Villiers ahead of IPL 2026

AB de Villiers has shared the importance Virat Kohli holds in the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) dressing room ahead of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL). Kohli remains the backbone of RCB and their IPL aspirations as he prepares to commence his 19th consecutive season with the franchise. De Villiers, Kohli’s former teammate at RCB, understands the aura the 37-year-old holds, not only on the field but also off the field. 

The former South Africa batter believes that Kohli brings out the best in the rest of the squad through his performances with the bat while also showcasing his energy and attitude on the ground. These combinations finally resulted in the Bengaluru franchise winning their maiden IPL title. Despite not being the captain, Kohli led the team from the front and finished the campaign as their lead run-scorer. The right-hander scored 657 runs at an average of 54.75, including eight half-centuries. 

"Virat definitely is still the heartbeat of the franchise. Not only through his performances and the consistency he has achieved with the bat over the years, but also through his presence and the energy he brings to the squad. The way he conducts himself on and off the field, always fighting for the team, stands out. He brings that energy and makes the youngsters believe that they can ultimately go on and win the trophy, which RCB did last year,” de Villiers said on JioStar.

Despite Kohli’s dominating presence at RCB, de Villiers is proud to see the entire team contribute to their title win. 

“What I liked about last season, yes, he was one of the main run-scorers in the team, as openers usually are, but there were other players who stepped in. In the past, RCB were often guilty of relying on just two, three or four players performing consistently. This time, I felt the entire team chipped in,” he added.

Like Dhoni and CSK, Virat and RCB will always be synonymous: Kumble

Former India captain and legendary spinner Anil Kumble has agreed with de Villiers’ viewpoint on Kohli’s importance within the RCB camp. The former player-turned-pundit went on to compare the former India captain’s relationship with RCB and its fans to that of MS Dhoni’s bonding with the Chennai Super Kings. 

"Yes, RCB’s identity is still built around him. If you look back at RCB over the last 10-12 years, it has always been about someone like Virat Kohli. Once he took over the captaincy in 2013, it has been about his presence with the franchise. Of course, AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle received a similar kind of support.

"I was fascinated when AB walked in to play his 100th Test match at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, you could see the kind of reception he received even while representing South Africa. That shows the kind of love people of Bengaluru have for RCB and for Virat. Like we speak about MS (Dhoni) and CSK, Virat and RCB will always be synonymous, and I don’t think that will change. That legacy will remain.” Kumble said. 

Similar to de Villiers, Kumble was also impressed by contributions made by other players in the RCB squad on their way to winning the tournament in 2025. He was particularly impressed by the spin-duo of Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma. The pair took 25 wickets between themselves, with Krunal himself taking 17. 

“What stood out for me last season were the contributions from the two spinners, Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma. They brought consistency in the bowling performances, which helped RCB reach the final and eventually win it. The fast bowlers, we knew, always had the credentials to perform their roles, whether it was Bhuvneshwar Kumar or Josh Hazlewood,” he added. 

RCB will be kicking off the 2026 IPL season with a home game against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Saturday, 28 March in Bengaluru.