On June 1,2026,after one thrilling match,Royal Challengers Bengaluru again stood on top and head coach Andy Flower had big praise for Virat Kohli.
RCB beat Gujarat Titans by five-wicket victory and sealed their second consecutive IPL championship . For franchise that was called perennial underachievers for so many years,this back-to-back titles thing is not small thing ah.
But main story again became Kohli only . He scored unbeaten 75 runs off just 42 balls while helping RCB chase target of 156 runs at Narendra Modi Stadium . And the way he did it under pressure,that is exactly why people still talk about his hunger like it is something different .
Andy Flower called Kohli’s influence “genuinely inspiring.” He said,“His hunger and drive are wonderful to witness. We’re very lucky to have him in the dressing room,” and honestly,that line says lot about how much dressing room depends on him beyond just runs.
Few things standing out from this RCB win:
- Kohli reached his fifty in just 25 balls,the fastest in his IPL history .
- Andy Flower said Kohli’s standards lift team intensity and discipline.
- Rajat Patidar credited Kohli for his growth as leader.
And this is where Rajat Patidar’s journey also becomes interesting . Since taking over as captain prior to the 2025 season,Patidar has led RCB to back-to-back titles,and that is huge turnaround for team’s image.
Patidar also spoke about Kohli’s impact on him and said,“His presence makes a lot of difference. I always observe him and learn from him,” which feels very natural because younger captains don’t just learn tactics,they learn body language,calmness,pressure handling also.
His own IPL 2026 was strong too . Patidar made 501 runs at strike rate of 192.69,and in big moments his batting approach gave RCB that extra push . Even Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer called him the “most stylish performer” of season,and Patidar accepted that praise while saying he takes inspiration from him .
And while RCB celebrated,Patidar also mentioned Vaibhav Sooryavanshi,the 15-year-old opener from Rajasthan Royals who won Orange Cap with 776 runs . That part is exciting because one side Kohli is still setting standard,and other side someone this young is already dominating tournament.
Tbh,this season feels like one of those turning points where old legends,new captains and teenage talent are all mixing together at same time . But now question is whether RCB can keep this same fire going,or if this peak itself becomes next big pressure…
