Former AB de Villiers has once again underlined the immense value of Virat Kohli to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, calling him the “heartbeat” of the franchise ahead of IPL 2026. While Kohli’s numbers continue to impress, de Villiers believes his influence goes far beyond runs, shaping the mindset and energy of the entire squad.

As RCB gear up to begin their title defence against Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 28 at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, expectations are naturally high. After finally ending their long wait for an IPL trophy in 2025, the challenge now is to replicate that success—and Kohli remains central to that mission.

“Virat definitely is still the heartbeat of the franchise. Not only through his performances and the consistency he has achieved with the bat over the years, but also through his presence and the energy he brings to the squad. The way he conducts himself on and off the field, always fighting for the team, stands out. He brings that energy and makes the youngsters believe that they can ultimately go on and win the trophy, which RCB did last year,” AB de Villiers said.

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What stood out to the former RCB superstar, however, was the shift in team dynamics last season. Unlike previous years where the side often relied heavily on a few individuals, IPL 2025 saw a more balanced contribution across the lineup.

“What I liked about last season, yes, he was one of the main run-scorers in the team, as openers usually are, but there were other players who stepped in. In the past, RCB were often guilty of relying on just two, three, or four players performing consistently. This time, I felt the entire team chipped in,” he added.

Reflecting on the final, de Villiers highlighted how contributions from players like Rajat Patidar, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma, and Romario Shepherd proved decisive, even as Kohli anchored the innings.

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“That’s my point, players contributing like that throughout the season, and the bowling attack stepping up. Virat can feel that; he can sense that he is not the only one carrying the load anymore,” he said.

With a settled squad and renewed belief, RCB head into IPL 2026 as genuine contenders once again—powered by Kohli’s presence and a stronger collective unit around him.