Virat Kohli may be in the twilight of his illustrious cricket career, but the Royal Challengers Bengaluru superstar continues to prove that age is just a number. At 37, Kohli remains one of the most influential cricketers in the world, consistently delivering match-winning performances and adding new milestones to an already legendary resume. His contributions were once again crucial as RCB secured back-to-back IPL titles, ending their long wait for success and establishing themselves as one of the league’s dominant teams.

As RCB enters a new era under Rajat Patidar’s leadership, Kohli remains the franchise’s driving force. His impact extends beyond runs and statistics. The former India captain’s passion, intensity, and relentless pursuit of excellence continue to inspire teammates and set the standard within the dressing room.

One of the most impressive aspects of Kohli’s recent success has been his ability to evolve with the changing demands of T20 cricket. With young stars like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Abhishek Sharma bringing a fearless approach to the format, Kohli has adapted his own game without compromising his strengths. His IPL 2026 strike rate of 165.85—the highest of his IPL career in a single season—highlighted that transformation.

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Kohli’s outstanding campaign culminated in a Player of the Final performance as RCB clinched another IPL crown. His achievements have earned praise from former England fast bowler Stuart Broad, who believes the Indian legend could be one of the most influential cricketers of the modern era.

Speaking on the For the Love of Cricket podcast, Stuart Broad said: “There is an argument that he (Kohli) could be the most important cricketer ever in such a moving environment that we’ve seen over the last 15 years. For clarity on his achievements, he’s won the Under-19 World Cup as captain, Champions Trophy twice, ODI World Cup, T20 World Cup, held the World Test Championship mace as captain for three years and now two IPL titles.”

Stuart Broad also reflected on Kohli’s long-awaited IPL success and compared it to Rory McIlroy’s journey to winning golf’s Masters Tournament.

“It did feel like the IPL was going to be the one that slipped past him, didn’t it?” Stuart Broad said. “It’s sort of that Rory McIlroy scenario where everyone was desperate for him to win. It looked like he just wasn’t going to get over the line. And then once he’s won it, he’s gone back-to-back.”

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The former England pacer also highlighted how difficult it is to defend a title successfully. “There must have been some good leadership around that group, including him. It’s not easy to go back-to-back. It’s not easy to just turn up for the next season and do it again. You have to reset your goals. You have to reset your motivation and drive. And Kohli just never lacks drive, does he?”