Virat Kohli Reflects on Pressure, Loyalty and RCB’s Long Road to IPL Glory

When Royal Challengers Bengaluru finally won their first-ever Indian Premier League title in 2025, it wasn’t just another championship—it was the culmination of nearly two decades of expectation, heartbreak and persistence.

For Virat Kohli, who has been with the franchise since 2008, the moment carried emotional weight that would not have existed had success come earlier.

“I can with absolute honesty and clarity say that it wouldn't have been five per cent of the feeling I had, had we won it in the earlier years. And the accumulation of all that stress and all that pressure. And for it to happen after 18 years, there couldn't have been a better experience for me in my cricketing journey, apart from all the other things that I've experienced playing for India as well. This was very, very special,” Kohli said.

What happened in the IPL 2025 final?

RCB defeated Punjab Kings in the final to secure their maiden title. The defining moment came in the last over, bowled by Josh Hazlewood, with Punjab needing 29 runs.

Kohli described the closing moments as almost indescribable.

“I felt very thankful, and I feel grateful every day of my life, to be honest. I have nothing to complain about. But that night, especially, and I still say it's very difficult to explain to people in words how I felt in the last four balls of the last over,” he said.

Why had the pressure built up over the years?

Despite being one of the most popular teams, RCB had long been labelled underachievers—often coming close but never winning.

Kohli highlighted how this narrative intensified over time.

“When you see from the outside what has happened to the franchise, how RCB has been looked at for so many years as a big team, big franchise that's never won, you know, the almost champions, the ones that have come close but never really won the trophy. And for that pressure to build over so many years, like season after season, and there's one thing to observe it, and there's one thing to live it. And I have lived through all of those seasons,” he added.

How did Kohli’s personal journey shape this moment?

Kohli’s connection with RCB goes beyond performance—he has been central to its identity. He recalled being the only retained player ahead of the 2011 season, a critical phase in his career.

“I started my journey with RCB very young, as everyone knows. Then I was retained at a very important juncture in my career, to be fair, with the conversation back and forth. RCB agreed to the perspective I had for my own career, for my own game, because I was also playing for India. They showed trust in me. I was the only retained player in 2011. And they kind of built the team around,” he said.

What role did star players and team culture play?

Over the years, several global stars became deeply connected to the franchise, including AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle.

Kohli explained how shared pressure and expectations created emotional bonds.

“Then the involvement of like AB, Chris Gayle, all the iconic players that have played for so many years, very naturally, they also started feeling all those pressures and all the expectations. And hence, the care comes from the fact that when you have kind of given so much of yourself, you know, to one team, because it's demanding so much out of you, to be honest, like the expectations have been sky high always. So when people give so much of their own being to something, there is a very genuine and natural care and an emotional connection,” Kohli stated.

What did the victory mean emotionally for Kohli?

After years of near-misses, the win triggered an outpouring of emotion from Kohli, who said the moment was overwhelming.

“I felt that impact probably more than anyone over the course of 18 years, till the last year we won the trophy. And I think all those emotions, all those feelings came out in a form of just being on my knees and just holding my hands and saying, thank you, that I could experience this before I stopped playing,” he said.

Where does RCB stand now?

Following their historic win, RCB have carried momentum into the 2026 season, emerging as strong contenders again. Kohli has continued to lead from the front, reinforcing his legacy as both a player and symbol of the franchise.

The 2025 triumph, however, remains a defining chapter—not just for RCB, but for a player who waited 18 years to experience it.

(With inputs from ANI)