{"id":13766,"date":"2026-06-01T17:12:47","date_gmt":"2026-06-01T17:12:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/1win.za.com\/ipl\/andy-flower-hails-virat-kohli-as-rcbs-heartbeat-after-back-to-back-wins"},"modified":"2026-06-01T17:12:47","modified_gmt":"2026-06-01T17:12:47","slug":"andy-flower-hails-virat-kohli-as-rcbs-heartbeat-after-back-to-back-wins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/1win.za.com\/ipl\/andy-flower-hails-virat-kohli-as-rcbs-heartbeat-after-back-to-back-wins","title":{"rendered":"Andy Flower hails Virat Kohli as RCB\u2019s \u201cheartbeat\u201d after back-to-back wins"},"content":{"rendered":"

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 \u201cheartbeat\u201d of the franchise\u2019s dressing room, adding that Kohli\u2019s approach\u2014calm, consistent and fearless against top-level opponents\u2014has 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.<\/p>\n

Flower\u2019s message to Kohli and RCB\u2019s winning mindset<\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. In a video shared on X by RCB\u2019s official account, Andy Flower highlighted Kohli as the \u201cheartbeat\u201d inside the dressing room.<\/li>\n
  2. Flower emphasised that Kohli\u2019s courage\u2014going out and taking responsibility while challenging high-quality opposition\u2014has been a standout trait and serves as an example for everyone in the squad.<\/li>\n
  3. He also credited the team\u2019s season-long character, pointing particularly to the pressure moments during the IPL 2026 playoffs.<\/li>\n
  4. Flower said that while elite performance demands skill and cricketing awareness, it is bravery and heart that ultimately create separation at the highest level\u2014an attitude he believes RCB showed repeatedly in their successful title defence.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Flower\u2019s 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\u2014putting himself forward and facing strong opposition\u2014amounts 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\u2019s middle-overs performances under pressure.<\/p>\n

    IPL 2026 final: GT set 156, RCB chase it down<\/h2>\n
      \n
    1. RCB won the toss and sent GT in first, with the Titans managing 155\/8 in their 20 overs.<\/li>\n
    2. In GT\u2019s 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.<\/li>\n
    3. RCB\u2019s bowling kept the pressure on throughout: Rasikh Dar Salam claimed 3\/27, Bhuvneshwar Kumar took 2\/29, and Josh Hazlewood finished with 2\/37.<\/li>\n
    4. 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.<\/li>\n
    5. GT fought back by pulling things in their favour at one stage, reducing RCB to 132\/5.<\/li>\n
    6. 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.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      RCB\u2019s victory marked their second IPL championship and fourth major Indian franchise trophy overall, a tally that also includes two Women\u2019s Premier League (WPL) titles.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      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…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":13764,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"Andy Flower Praises Virat Kohli as RCB Heartbeat","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Andy Flower calls Virat Kohli RCB\u2019s \u201cheartbeat\u201d after back-to-back wins, praising his calm, consistent leadership as RCB clinch another IPL success.","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13766","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ipl"],"yoast_head":"\nAndy Flower Praises Virat Kohli as RCB Heartbeat<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Andy Flower calls Virat Kohli RCB\u2019s \u201cheartbeat\u201d after back-to-back wins, praising his calm, 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