Virat Kohli has given a rare glimpse into the feelings behind Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s long-awaited IPL title breakthrough, describing the last over of last year’s final as something he still struggles to put into words. Speaking during an RCB Podcast, the former India captain said the emotional weight of carrying the “almost champions” tag for years made the eventual moment feel even bigger than any earlier success could have.
Quick facts
- Virat Kohli shared his reflections on RCB Podcast about the emotion of breaking the IPL championship jinx.
- He described the pressure of 18 years of heartbreak as something “very difficult to explain” in words.
- Kohli said winning earlier in his career would have felt far less special than triumph arriving after 18 years.
- He credited the franchise legacy and the bond with Bengaluru for the deeper emotional connect.
- Kohli highlighted AB de Villiers’ impact and Chris Gayle’s mid-season call-up and quick change in fortunes.
- He noted that despite Gayle later playing for other teams, the West Indian star still has a soft spot for RCB.
- Kohli said the title drought changed how he views success and the collective inspiration sport can bring.
- He compared the evolving T20 nature to the way a single moment can flip a UEFA Champions League game.
Kohli opened by recalling what it felt like in the final stretch of the chase, telling listeners that the last four balls of the last over carried an intensity that words simply struggle to capture. He also spoke about how, from the outside, RCB have often been framed as a huge, well-known franchise that somehow never managed to lift the trophy—yet the real understanding comes only from living through it.
He said his own journey with RCB made the payoff even more intense. Kohli began his IPL career with the franchise as a teenager in 2008, and he was the only player retained by the management in 2011—an early sign of how central he would become to RCB’s identity over the years.
In the podcast, Kohli stressed that the long wait did not dilute the joy; it amplified it. He admitted that if RCB had won in earlier seasons, the feeling would have been only a fraction of what he experienced after 18 years. For him, the timing mattered, and he described it as the best possible experience during his cricketing journey.
The title win sparked an emotional surge far beyond Kohli alone. He pointed to how franchise figures who had helped build RCB’s legacy also reacted strongly, while viral images of Kohli celebrating with the energy of a child—alongside long-time teammates AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle—spread rapidly across social media.
The Bengaluru connection
Kohli also explained that the relationship between RCB players and Bengaluru goes well beyond typical professional obligations. He said that when people invest so much of themselves into something, the care that follows is natural, and the emotional bond becomes real. In his view, that connection is part of what makes the franchise’s success feel bigger than a single moment.
He singled out AB de Villiers’ role in that identity, noting that AB became an icon in India after starting to play for RCB and that what he contributed to the team was beyond simple description. Kohli then spoke about Chris Gayle’s situation, saying Gayle was at home when he received the call mid-season, went on to produce a standout run, and saw his life and fortunes shift quickly after arriving in Bengaluru.
Kohli added that the franchise, the city, the squad, and their supporters have consistently aimed to influence people in a genuine, natural way—and over the course of 18 years, he felt that impact more than anyone. He also remarked that even though Gayle later represented other franchises, the West Indian still carries a “very soft spot for RCB,” shaped by the franchise’s and city’s influence on him.
How the title changed his view of success
For Kohli, the drought-breaking championship altered his perspective on what success truly means. He said the experience reframed the idea of winning as not only personal achievement, but also the ability to create something positive for others. He described it as a powerful chance to make a difference in people’s lives and called it a “great blessing.”
He also underlined how T20 cricket continues to evolve, to the point where it can feel like a different game compared to the past. Kohli compared it to a high-intensity UEFA Champions League match, where a single pivotal moment can swing the entire competition—emphasising how T20’s momentum can change rapidly and decisively.
The former India skipper’s reflections served as a reminder that RCB’s title story was not just about lifting a trophy, but about carrying pressure, learning from heartbreak, and finally turning the defining moment into something lasting for players and fans alike.
