Stuart Broad has heaped praise on India and Royal Challengers Bengaluru batter Virat Kohli after the former captain’s decisive role in RCB’s back-to-back IPL triumphs at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday night. In the chase of 156 against Gujarat Titans, Kohli produced a composed 75* to steer Bengaluru home with 12 balls remaining and five wickets still in hand.
Key takeaways
- Broad lauded Kohli for his match-winning innings of 75 not out in RCB’s successful chase of 156.
- RCB finished with 12 balls to spare and five wickets intact versus Gujarat Titans.
- Broad said Kohli has won “almost every” major tournament over roughly the past 15 years.
- The fast bowler highlighted Kohli’s major trophies, including two Champions Trophy titles, World Cups in ODI and T20 formats, and the World Test Championship mace during a three-year captaincy spell.
- Broad compared Kohli’s IPL run to golfer Rory McIlroy’s long wait for a major victory, noting how momentum can change quickly.
Broad’s verdict on Kohli’s legacy
Speaking on the “For the Love of Cricket” podcast, Broad argued that Kohli’s impact across formats may be unmatched in the modern era. He noted that Kohli has amassed an extraordinary collection of honours, beginning with the Under-19 World Cup where he captained the side.
Broad then pointed to Kohli’s major international success, listing Champions Trophy titles on two occasions, the ODI World Cup, and the T20 World Cup. He also referenced the World Test Championship mace, saying Kohli led as captain for three years to earn that achievement, before adding that the batter has now collected two IPL crowns.
McIlroy parallel and the challenge of going again
Broad went on to draw a comparison with Rory McIlroy, explaining that it took 11 years for the golfer to break a major title drought. He recalled that after a major win in 2014, McIlroy’s next major arrived in 2025 at the Masters, and that earlier this year he won it again.
According to Broad, Kohli’s IPL story has a similar arc. He said it felt as though the tournament might be the one where Kohli’s wait would finally stretch, especially after the long gap. Broad referenced that Kohli took 18 years to win an IPL title last season, and then, almost immediately, another title followed.
The 39-year-old added that back-to-back success is not something teams can simply repeat on autopilot. In his view, once a player gets over the line, the mindset shifts—but keeping the same standards requires strong leadership and steady motivation. Broad summed it up by saying Kohli’s drive never seems to fade, and that was reflected in RCB’s ability to reset and deliver again after winning the previous season.
