Image Credit: BCCI/IPL/RCB
New Delhi: Virat Kohli’s mere presence in the dressing room is enough to raise the standards. His intensity, work ethic and never-say-die attitude to win have long made him the beating heart of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and IPL 2026 was no different.
Kohli played a pivotal role in RCB’s second successive IPL title win, as he finished as the highest run-scorer in the series and the fourth-highest total in the tournament. The batsman scored 675 runs in 16 matches at an average of 56.25 and a strike rate of 165.85, including a match-winning 75 in the final against Gujarat Titans.
RCB all-rounder Krunal Pandya, who was part of the franchise’s back-to-back title-winning campaigns in 2025 and 2026, spoke at length about Kohli’s impact on the team and his career during his interaction as guest sports editor of The Times Of India.Asked about Kohli’s influence on the group, especially when it comes to fitness and motivation, Krunal said the former India captain inspires everyone simply by the way he carries himself.“He leads by example. The hunger he still has to perform and win is inspiring. Sometimes people get complacent after a success or two, but then you see someone who has made excellence a habit. You can still see his love for the game. If that love and hunger remains constant, the sky is the limit.”Krunal pointed to Kohli’s response to adversity during IPL 2026 as an example of the champion mentality that has defined his career.
“After 11 games this season, he got two ducks and people asked me if we were worried. I told them I was excited. He got two zeros in a row and then he went out and scored the game-winning goal. He inspires people in the locker room and outside with his actions,” he said.For Krunal, Kohli’s competitive spirit and obsession with winning has been a source of personal inspiration.When asked if Kohli had influenced him personally, he replied: “One hundred percent. I’m also someone who plays aggressive cricket and likes to win. It doesn’t mean I’m a graceful loser, but I like to win.”“We have similarities in the way we approach the game. Over the years, I’ve spent a lot of time with him. Sharing the dressing room with him was special. He’s a leader in every sense of the word. There’s no doubt about that,” he said.
