Virat Kohli has laid down an early marker for Royal Challengers Bengaluru ahead of IPL 2026, making it clear that defending the title will be a completely different challenge. Speaking during the team’s first training session at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Kohli addressed the squad with a sense of urgency and purpose.
“We worked really hard over the last two to three seasons to achieve what we did last year, and it’s only going to get tougher because the other teams are going to come hard at us,” Virat Kohli said. He followed it up with a strong call to action, urging players to make the most of every moment in the build-up phase. “We don’t waste these days. We stay ahead. So, switch on now. Let’s not waste even a minute of every session we are a part of. We must give our 120% for these two and a half months,” he added.
RCB’s transformation over the past few seasons has been remarkable. Once seen as underachievers despite their star-studded line-ups, the franchise finally broke through in 2025. Under the guidance of head coach Andy Flower and director Mo Bobat, the team shifted towards a more balanced and methodical approach, which ultimately helped them defeat Punjab Kings in the final.
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Adny Flower, who kicked off the session by welcoming new signings, expressed confidence in the revamped squad and the direction the team is heading. “We had an interesting auction. I think we’ve improved our squad, to be quite frank,” Flower said. He also highlighted the importance of integrating fresh talent into the existing core.
“We brought in some great new additions. So, integrating those new players into the RCB way with some of the established players, obviously led by Virat and Rajat, is an exciting part of building a new team together,” he added.
The coach didn’t shy away from acknowledging the pride of being champions but quickly shifted focus to the road ahead.
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“If there is one difference this year, we have actually got a star on our shirts. So that is a very proud feeling to have for all RCBians,” he said. “One thing that I would emphasise, though, is that the season’s gone and now we have a new challenge ahead of us… we’re here to win this year’s IPL,” Andy Flower concluded.
While the session reflected positivity and intent, the absence of Yash Dayal was noticeable, adding a layer of uncertainty as RCB gear up for their title defence.
