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For a player who has carried the relentless weight of franchise and fan expectations season after season, Virat Kohli acknowledged that the current Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) squad has evolved past relying on a single individual. Following Sunday's triumph, the iconic batter expressed immense relief, noting that the team no longer expects him to step up in every crucial moment. This shift in dynamic is a testament to the squad's growth, as the locker room now boasts multiple match-winners capable of turning a game on its head.
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Despite the collective depth of the team, Kohli still stood tallest on the grandest stage of all. He anchored the chase with a masterful, unbeaten 75 to guide Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a commanding five-wicket victory over the Gujarat Titans, perfectly capitalizing on an elite performance from the RCB bowling unit earlier in the evening.
The victory marks a glorious new chapter for a franchise once defined by its title drought. After finally clinching their elusive maiden championship in the 18th year of the tournament, Kohli and RCB have now firmly established a modern dynasty by securing their second consecutive trophy, proving that the defending champions are truly the team to beat.
“We've had to wait for so long and then just to have a group of guys where you feel like you're stepping onto the ground, you don't need to be the one to step up every time,” Kohli told host broadcaster.
“These guys are behind you (and) around you, who can win games of cricket for you. We have so many Man of the Match awards spread throughout the group as well. You look at world-class bowling of Hoff (Josh Hazlewood), Bhuv (Bhuvneshwar Kumar), Duff (Jacob Duffy), and Krunal Pandya — you can bank on him as good as ever — Rasikh (Salam) Dar was brilliant this season,” he added.
'I said to a few of the boys that it doesn't feel like the same pressure as last year'
Reflecting on the squad's immense growth, Virat Kohli emphasized that the current group of RCB players finally possesses the ideal blend of balance and depth. He noted that the roster is no longer top-heavy or over-reliant on a few individuals, but rather a well-rounded unit where every player understands their role perfectly.
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This newfound structural strength has allowed the team to absorb pressure during critical moments of the tournament. According to Kohli, having high-caliber match-winners distributed throughout both the batting and bowling departments has given the franchise the resilience needed to consistently cross the finish line and win championships.
“I said to a few of the boys that it doesn't feel like the same pressure as last year, we knew what kind of ability we have in the group. We topped the table, there's a reason why we got here first and we just said one thing, ’if we stick to our cricket, if we execute our plans, we are the best team in the competition’ and there's a reason why we've done well so far. In the group stage, we ended up topping the league stage and just the skill sets (that) we have, the maturity, the composure of the guys just shown through again tonight and it was a clinical performance brought throughout the tournament,” Kohli further stated.
Virat Kohli noted that the squad’s resolve was heavily tested following a brief mid-season break, which temporarily disrupted their winning momentum. However, the turning point for the defending champions came during a high-stakes, nail-biting encounter against the Mumbai Indians in Raipur.
According to the former skipper, pulling off a gritty, close-fought victory in that specific match served as a massive catalyst for the team. The hard-earned win instantly injected confidence back into the dressing room, restoring the players' self-belief and providing the crucial psychological boost needed to fuel their championship run.
“After the break, we had a couple of losses… I mean, one loss, and then we had a close win against MI. I'd say that week for us was a bit tricky because we wanted to finish top, but as soon as we got there, win against MI, the belief kicked back in, then we had a comprehensive win against KKR and then, yeah, just ended up topping the table and just on our way to the finals,” he concluded.
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