Mohammad Kaif praised Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Virat Kohli for winning the Indian Premier League title last year. In the IPL 2026 opener, RCB and Kohli face Sunrisers Hyderabad, aiming to start their title defense successfully. RCB and Kohli have been runners-up three times and reached the playoffs in ten of the last 18 seasons. Kaif highlighted that it took 18 years for RCB and Kohli to win their first title, emphasizing Kohli’s dedication to the team since 2008.
After Kohli stepped down as captain in 2021, Faf du Plessis took over, and Rajat Patidar became the skipper for the 2025 season. Kohli holds several IPL records, including being the all-time leading run-scorer with 8661 runs in 267 matches. He was retained for ₹21 crore in the 2025 mega auction and had a successful season with 657 runs in 15 matches. In the final, he scored 43 runs as RCB ended their 18-year title drought and clinched their maiden IPL trophy.
Overall, RCB and Kohli’s journey to success has been a testament to their perseverance and determination, with fans eagerly awaiting their performance in the upcoming season.
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