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Virat Kohli Prepares RCB for Tough IPL Title Defense Ahead of 2026 Season

As the Royal Challengers Bengaluru gear up to defend their IPL title, Virat Kohli emphasizes the challenges that await them in the 2026 season. With the tournament starting on March 28, RCB faces tough competition, especially as other teams aim to dethrone the champions. Kohli's leadership and the team's new additions are crucial as they prepare for their opening match against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Head coach Andy Flower expresses confidence in the strengthened squad, highlighting the importance of embracing the new season's challenges. Will RCB rise to the occasion and secure back-to-back titles? Read on to find out more.
By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 21, 2026, 15:44 IST

RCB Gears Up for IPL 2026


Bengaluru: As the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) prepare to defend their title in the Indian Premier League (IPL), former captain and star batsman Virat Kohli has cautioned his teammates about the tough challenges that lie ahead in the upcoming 19th season, commencing on March 28.

Having clinched their first IPL title in 2025, RCB will kick off their title defense against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on March 28. Following that, they will face the five-time champions, Chennai Super Kings (CSK), in another home match on April 5.


The team has initiated their training camp in Bengaluru, with the first practice session taking place at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday.


Kohli emphasized to his RCB teammates that the 2026 IPL season would be particularly demanding, as being the defending champions means other teams will be more determined to defeat them.






During the initial practice session, Kohli addressed a small group of primarily Indian players, urging them to give their utmost in the weeks to come. He stated, “We have put in significant effort over the last few seasons to achieve what we did last year, and it’s only going to get tougher as other teams will come at us with full force.”


The new recruits were welcomed to the team by head coach Andy Flower before Kohli delivered an inspiring talk during the first practice session.


Kohli, who is among the top scorers in IPL history, stressed the importance of urgency from the very beginning, saying, “We don’t waste these days. We need to stay ahead. So, let’s switch on now. We must not waste a single minute of any session we are part of. We need to give our 120 percent for these two and a half months.”

RCB has bolstered their squad during the auction, acquiring players such as Venkatesh Iyer, Mangesh Yadav, Jordan Cox, Vicky Ostwal, and Satvik Deswal.


Head coach Flower expressed his satisfaction with the team assembled post-auction, noting that they have strengthened crucial areas.


He remarked, “We had an interesting auction, and I believe we’ve improved our squad significantly. We’ve added some fantastic new players. Integrating them into the RCB culture alongside established stars like Virat and Rajat is an exciting aspect of building this team.”


Flower also mentioned that the team is ready to embrace the challenge ahead rather than dwell on past achievements. “This year, we have a star on our shirt, which is a source of pride for all RCB fans. However, that season is behind us. We now face a new challenge, and it’s an exciting one. Our goal is to win this year’s IPL,” he concluded.