Star batter Virat Kohli urges RCB teammates to stay focused and give their all over the next two and a half months, warning of tougher battles ahead as they look to defend title
Virat Kohli during RCB’s practice session at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, on Friday. PICS/RCB’S INSTAGRAM
As Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) get ready to defend their IPL title, their former captain and star batter Virat Kohli has warned the side of challenging times ahead in the 19th edition of the competition, which begins on March 28.
RCB, who won their maiden IPL title in the 2025 edition, will begin their title defence with a clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on March 28. They will then take on five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in another home clash on April 5 in the first leg of the competition.
RCB began their preparatory camp in Bengaluru on Saturday, with the first training session at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Kohli warned his RCB teammates that the 2026 IPL season would be more challenging, as they are the defending champions and other teams will redouble their efforts to beat them.
Virat Kohli (left) gives a pep talk to RCB players on Friday
During the team’s first practice session, Kohli spoke to a small group, mostly consisting of Indian players and urged them to give their absolute best in the coming weeks. “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 other teams are going to come hard at us,” Kohli told his teammates.
The former India captain, who ranks high on the all-time scorers’ list in the IPL, emphasised urgency from day one, “We don’t waste these days. We stay ahead. So, switch on now. Let’s not waste even a minute of any session that we are a part of. We must give our 120 per cent for these two and a half months.” RCB have strengthened their squad by picking up Venkatesh Iyer, Mangesh Yadav, Jordan Cox, Vicky Ostwal, and Satvik Deswal.
Four
No of times RCB have reached IPL finals in 18 seasons; they have won once
10
No of times RCB have made it to IPL Playoffs
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