Royal Challengers Bengaluru head coach Andy Flower showered Virat Kohli with praise after RCB clinched their second straight Indian Premier League (IPL) title, beating Gujarat Titans (GT) in the final on Sunday at Narendra Modi Stadium in Gujarat. Flower described Kohli as the “heartbeat” of the franchise’s dressing room, adding that Kohli’s approach—calm, consistent and fearless against top-level opponents—has set a powerful example for the group. With the triumph, RCB became just the third team in IPL history, after Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians, to successfully defend the championship. Rajat Patidar led the chase after GT were restricted to 155/8, and RCB finished the job with five wickets and two overs remaining.
Flower’s message to Kohli and RCB’s winning mindset
- In a video shared on X by RCB’s official account, Andy Flower highlighted Kohli as the “heartbeat” inside the dressing room.
- Flower emphasised that Kohli’s courage—going out and taking responsibility while challenging high-quality opposition—has been a standout trait and serves as an example for everyone in the squad.
- He also credited the team’s season-long character, pointing particularly to the pressure moments during the IPL 2026 playoffs.
- Flower said that while elite performance demands skill and cricketing awareness, it is bravery and heart that ultimately create separation at the highest level—an attitude he believes RCB showed repeatedly in their successful title defence.
Flower’s comments in the video underlined the idea that Kohli receives plenty of attention, but his impact in the group goes beyond publicity. He stressed that the courage Kohli consistently displays—putting himself forward and facing strong opposition—amounts to exceptional role modelling for the entire team. Flower further added that, when he looks back at the season, what stands out most is the bravery shown during the playoff run, calling it a defining feature of RCB’s middle-overs performances under pressure.
IPL 2026 final: GT set 156, RCB chase it down
- RCB won the toss and sent GT in first, with the Titans managing 155/8 in their 20 overs.
- In GT’s innings, Washington Sundar struck 50 not out from 37 balls, including five fours, while Nishant Sindhu made 20 off 18 deliveries with three fours; together, they were the only batters to reach the 20-run mark.
- RCB’s bowling kept the pressure on throughout: Rasikh Dar Salam claimed 3/27, Bhuvneshwar Kumar took 2/29, and Josh Hazlewood finished with 2/37.
- RCB started brightly, building a 62-run partnership between Venkatesh Iyer and Virat Kohli, with Iyer scoring 32 off 16 balls featuring four boundaries and two sixes.
- GT fought back by pulling things in their favour at one stage, reducing RCB to 132/5.
- Virat Kohli then carried the chase, finishing unbeaten on 75 from 42 balls with nine fours and three maximums, steering RCB to the target with two overs to spare.
RCB’s victory marked their second IPL championship and fourth major Indian franchise trophy overall, a tally that also includes two Women’s Premier League (WPL) titles.
