Virat Kohli: The Heartbeat of RCB's IPL Triumph

RCB Celebrates IPL Victory with Kohli at the Helm

In Ahmedabad, Gujarat, on June 1, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) celebrated their second consecutive Indian Premier League (IPL) title after a decisive victory over the Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Head coach Andy Flower praised Virat Kohli, calling him the "heartbeat" of the team's dressing room and a stellar role model for his teammates.

With this win, RCB joins the elite ranks of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI) as the only teams to successfully defend their IPL title. After limiting GT to a score of 155/8 in their innings, RCB chased down the target with five wickets in hand and two overs to spare.

In a video shared on X by RCB's official account, Flower expressed his admiration for Kohli, highlighting his unwavering courage and commitment to facing top-tier opponents. He emphasized that Kohli's example serves as an exceptional model for the entire squad.

Flower stated, "Virat, I know you receive a lot of attention, and rightly so. But I want to emphasize that you are the heartbeat of this dressing room. Your continuous bravery in facing high-quality opposition is a remarkable example for all of us."

“𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮”: Andy Flower to Virat Kohli

Coach Andy uncut. From highlighting top performances, to wishing the young guns. Here’s a special from Andy’s dressing room talk.

Thank you, Coach!

To be… pic.twitter.com/QHGI6xCmLP

— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) June 1, 2026

Flower also commended the team's resilience and character throughout the IPL 2026 season, particularly during the playoffs. He noted that while skill and cricketing intelligence are crucial at the highest level, it is the heart and bravery that truly set teams apart. RCB showcased these qualities consistently during their title defense.

"Reflecting on our season, especially the playoffs, what stands out is the bravery displayed by the players. At the highest level, whether in Test cricket, World Cups, or IPL, you need exceptional skill and cricket intelligence, but heart is essential. This year, we have seen that in abundance," Flower remarked.

In the final match of IPL 2026, RCB batted first, restricting GT to a mere 155/8 in 20 overs. Washington Sundar (50* off 37 balls) and Nishant Sindhu (20 off 18 balls) were the only players to score above 20 runs. Rasikh Dar Salam (3/27), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2/29), and Josh Hazlewood (2/37) consistently took wickets.

RCB began their innings strongly with a partnership of 62 runs between Venkatesh Iyer (32 off 16 balls) and Virat Kohli. Although GT fought back, reducing RCB to 132/5, Kohli (75* off 42 balls) led RCB to victory with two overs remaining.

This marks RCB's second IPL title and their fourth overall in Indian franchise cricket, which includes two Women's Premier League (WPL) titles.