By Admin 
Before IPL 2026, a big thing has come to light regarding Royal Challengers Bangalore. Former veteran player of the team AB de Villiers has clearly said that Virat Kohli is still the “heartbeat” of RCB. According to him, Kohli’s impact on the team is not limited to just scoring runs, but his presence itself gives energy to the team.
The atmosphere changes with Kohli’s presence
AB de Villiers said that Kohli’s biggest strength is his consistency and his attitude. The way he presents himself on and off the field inspires a lot of young players. Kohli is always seen as a player who fights for the team, and this is what makes him special. He also said that Kohli creates such an environment in the team, where young players play with confidence and dream of winning trophies. This confidence has become a major reason for the team’s victory in the last season.
Contribution of the entire team in the victory of 2025
RCB won its first title in IPL 2025. The team defeated Punjab Kings in the final. Kohli scored 43 runs in that match, but according to de Villiers, the victory did not come on his own strength alone. He told that Rajat Patidar, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma and Romario Shepherd had scored fast runs and took the team to a strong score. Whereas Krunal Pandya had made an important contribution in bowling. De Villiers stressed that this time RCB’s success came because of teamwork and not just relying on a few players.
Now Kohli does not take responsibility alone
According to De Villiers, earlier RCB was often more dependent on some players, but now there is a balance in the team. Now Kohli does not have to bear the burden of the team alone, because other players are also contributing equally.
RCB again a title contender in IPL 2026
De Villiers has described RCB as a strong contender for IPL 2026. He believes that there has not been much change in the team and the same balance is intact which had won the title last year.
Full confidence in Kohli’s preparation
De Villiers has also given a big statement regarding Kohli’s preparation. He said that Kohli’s work ethic is the best and he never comes on the field without preparation. Even though he has played less matches recently, he will be fully prepared. De Villiers hopes that Kohli will perform brilliantly this season and RCB can be successful in winning the title for the second consecutive time.