Virat Kohli Reflects on IPL 2026 Triumph: “Waiting for the Last Balls Was the Toughest Part”
After years of chasing glory, Virat Kohli finally led Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title last season, completing his white-ball trophy cabinet in the process. In a heartfelt reflection shared via a video by the franchise, Kohli opened up about the emotions, challenges, and memories that made the victory so special.
A Calm Confidence Amid High Stakes
Speaking about the final against Punjab Kings, Virat revealed that, despite the pressure, he felt a “sense of calm confidence” upon reaching the finals. “I have been here since day one, and so has Mane Kaka (team’s masseur Ramesh Mane). We are probably the oldest members of the RCB group, and to be very honest, when we reached the finals, I felt a sense of calm confidence,” he said.
Yet, Kohli admitted that reaching the finals did not guarantee an easy win. “It is a final, and there is another team that has played really, really well to get there. They are confident and have beaten a lot of good sides, so it is not a cakewalk,” he added.
Motivation from Past Near Misses
For Kohli and his team, past heartbreaks provided added motivation. Narrow defeats in the 2009 and 2016 finals against Deccan Chargers and Sunrisers Hyderabad, respectively, gave the squad an “extra motivation to hold their nerve” and fight for the elusive trophy.
“Because the league has become so competitive, we had to play really good cricket to get to the finals. It is not a fluke, it is not by chance. We have beaten some really good teams, and we are an amazing side who have earned the right to be here on this day,” Kohli said.
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Emotional Rollercoaster in the Final Moments
While Kohli remained confident throughout the game, he described the final moments as the toughest part of the night. “It was quite surreal for me, quite unbelievable when it was all unfolding. The whole journey for 18 years the ups, the downs, good moments, bad moments—it was like the accumulation of all of that unfolding in front of you,” he reflected.
“The last over, where you know the game is sealed but you are still hoping Josh (Hazlewood) does not bowl a no-ball, was probably the toughest part of the night. There was a quiet confidence, but you are still waiting for the perfect result,” he added, recalling the teary-eyed moment captured by TV cameras.
Stellar Season Performance
Kohli’s performance throughout the IPL 2026 season was as commanding as ever. He scored 657 runs in 15 innings at an average of 54.75 and a strike rate of 144.71, including eight fifties, finishing as RCB’s leading run-scorer and the third-highest run-getter overall.
For Virat Kohli, the maiden IPL title was not just a trophy it was the culmination of 18 years of dedication, perseverance, and countless unforgettable moments with the franchise. As he prepares for IPL 2026, the “King” can finally walk into the season without the weight of past heartbreaks, having etched his name firmly in RCB’s history.
