On RCB’s first IPL win, Kohli said, “Close losses gave extra motivation in the final”.

March 23, 2026

Bengaluru: Virat Kohli, on Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s first IPL win, said that previous near-win experiences kept the team strong in the final. He described this victory as the culmination of an 18-year journey with the franchise.

RCB defeated Punjab Kings in the final to win the IPL trophy for the first time.

“It was a very special night for us. I’ve been with the team since day one, and so has Ramesh Mane. We’re probably the oldest members of the team,” Kohli said.

The team was confident before the final

Speaking about the situation before the final, Kohli said that the team was full of confidence, but the match wasn’t easy.

“When we reached the final, there was a quiet confidence, but we also knew it wouldn’t be easy. We faced a strong team that had performed exceptionally well to reach this point.”

Close defeats gave extra strength

Kohli said that the losses in previous finals motivated the team to perform better this time.

“In previous years, we had reached the final several times but couldn’t win. That experience was our motivation this time. We defeated quality teams to reach this point; it was no coincidence.”

Emotional moment and the tension of the last over

Recalling the final moments of the match, Kohli said that emotions were running high at that time.

“It’s difficult to describe the experience. The entire journey of 18 years flashed before my eyes. It was as if all the good and bad moments flashed before my eyes. I will never forget that feeling.”

He also mentioned the tension of the last over. “Even when the match was almost decided, the wait for the last three balls was the hardest. We were hoping for a win, but the tension remained until we were completely sure.”

Kohli preparing for the 19th season

Kohli will now enter his 19th IPL season and will look to extend his impressive record.

With 8661 runs in 267 matches, he is the IPL’s leading run-scorer. He has scored 8 centuries and 63 half-centuries so far.