Virat Kohli delivered a heartfelt message to teenage breakout star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after an unforgettable IPL 2026 campaign came to a close. The final night of the season brought together two of the tournament’s brightest lights—one captain who delivered championship success, and one youngster whose rise captured the imagination of fans from the very first phase of the competition.
RCB’s back-to-back title and a captain’s joy
Royal Challengers Bengaluru sealed their second consecutive IPL crown, and Kohli was among the most visible celebrators as the celebrations spilled onto the ground. In the aftermath of the trophy moment, the RCB veteran was seen congratulating Sooryavanshi, who had dominated the awards stage by sweeping multiple season honours.
- Kohli was named Player of the Match in the final.
- He smashed an unbeaten 75 off 42 balls to power the chase.
- His knock was decisive, with a six helping seal the title for Bengaluru.
Sooryavanshi’s award-laden breakthrough
Sooryavanshi’s IPL 2026 story turned into a season-long statement. The young prodigy collected a remarkable set of awards, underlining how completely he had taken over the tournament at a stage where many players are still finding their rhythm.
- He was named Emerging Player of the Season.
- He won Super Striker of the Season.
- He claimed Super Sixes of the Season.
- He finished as the Orange Cap winner.
- He was also awarded Most Valuable Player, wrapping up an extraordinary campaign.
Kohli’s message to the teenage star
Following the presentation ceremony, Kohli and Sooryavanshi shared a warm moment on the field. Later, RCB released a video capturing the exchange, where Kohli was heard encouraging the teenager to keep his focus even as attention around him continued to grow.
“Yahan se upar jana. Jo hua hai mehnat ki wajah se hua hai, believe ki wajah se hua hai. Kaun kya bol raha hai, kaise bol raha hai, chhod de,” Kohli said to the youngster.
He then left the teenager with a punchy line that quickly resonated with supporters: “Bas bat aur tum… Ek Bihari, sab pe bhari. Khatam game.”
Numbers that defined the season
The season’s final storyline was written in runs, strike rates, and match-defining finishes. Kohli’s title-winning contribution was backed by elite numbers, while Sooryavanshi’s totals reflected a campaign that rewrote expectations for a player at just 15 years old.
- Virat Kohli (37) guided RCB to the IPL 2026 title with 675 runs.
- His strike rate was 165.84, a career-best mark.
- He ended the final with a match-winning unbeaten 75*.
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (15) enjoyed a record-breaking RR campaign with 776 runs.
- He won the Orange Cap and MVP.
- His strike rate read an astonishing 237.30.
