RCB Kicks Off IPL 2026 with a Victory: Virat Kohli's Return and Reflections

RCB's Strong Start in IPL 2026

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has made a promising start in IPL 2026, securing a victory against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). This match marked the return of Virat Kohli to T20 cricket for the first time since the previous year. Currently residing in London, Kohli last played for India during the ODI series against New Zealand in January. His relocation has sparked humorous comments on social media, with users joking that RCB is fielding five overseas players due to Kohli's stay abroad. Comedian Danish Sait, known for his character Mr. Nags, playfully questioned Kohli in a video on RCB's YouTube channel about the team's overseas player situation. Kohli responded with a grin, saying, “I don’t know, why are you asking me? Ask the overseas players. I am not an overseas player. Am I an overseas player?”

Kohli Reflects on IPL Victory

'Monkey Off My Back'

Virat Kohli expressed that winning the IPL in 2025 after a 19-year wait lifted a significant burden off his shoulders. He shared, “I had heard of this statement or this saying for years, monkey off the back. That night I really felt what it means. Everything became light.” Kohli emphasized that victory is a culmination of hard work and dedication to the sport. He noted, “Victory is the accumulation of hard work, all the sacrifices you’ve made, to be committed to the sport. It all comes together as a form of assurance, a reward, to know that you haven’t wasted your time. A lot of people learn from losses, but a lot of people can get very disheartened as well. So when you win after a lot of hard work, it makes you feel a sense of justice to the work that you put in, and also gives you motivation to work harder.”