He received accolades from captain Rajat Patidar, who referred to Kohli as the top chase master in the sport after his unbeaten score of 69.
“Virat Kohli is our number one chase master,” he stated.
“I always relish watching him bat from the dugout – the way he plays, the shots he chooses, and how he assesses situations.
“I believe he is at his peak now. From what I observed in the nets, his energy and eagerness to excel and dominate remain unchanged.”
Kohli, who delivered the winning runs as fans chanted his name in a full stadium, mentioned that playing in a single format has kept him mentally refreshed.
“Given the schedule we’ve had over the past 15 years and the volume of cricket I’ve played, there was always a risk of burnout rather than being underprepared. So these breaks have been incredibly beneficial for me,” he added.
The victory held greater significance after last year’s first IPL title celebrations were marred by a tragic stampede outside the stadium that resulted in 11 fatalities.
Bengaluru honored the victims by leaving 11 seats empty, with players donning the number 11 during warm-ups and wearing black armbands throughout the match, followed by a minute’s silence before the game.
“They felt like family since they supported RCB for so long. We miss them,” Patidar remarked.
(With Reuters inputs)
First Published: Mar 29, 2026 4:25 PM IST
