Virat Kohli made a strong return to the Indian Premier League (IPL), delivering a match-winning performance for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in their season opener against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).
Fresh from helping RCB secure their first-ever title last season, Kohli appears determined to continue that success and lead the team’s title defence.
Interestingly, Kohli entered the tournament with minimal preparation, having taken a break after India’s last ODI assignment in January. During this period, he spent considerable time in London with his family, staying away from the constant attention in India. Despite the limited match practice, his performance showed no signs of rust, underlining his consistency and experience.
However, his decision to spend more time in London has sparked reactions on social media, with some fans questioning the move. Addressing the chatter in a light-hearted interaction with Danish Sait in his Mr Nags avatar, Kohli responded with humour. When teased about being treated like an overseas player, he said, “I don’t know, why are you asking me? Ask the overseas players. I am not an overseas player. Am I an overseas player?”
Watch:
“People are saying RCB is playing with 5 overseas players”😭😭pic.twitter.com/ualJwGsmyx
— Pushkar (@Musafirr_hu_yar) April 4, 2026
On Winning IPL
Reflecting on RCB’s long-awaited IPL triumph, Kohli spoke about the emotional relief of finally winning the title after years of effort. “I had heard of this statement or this saying, four years, monkey off the back. That night I really felt what it means. Everything became light,” he said.
Kohli also shared his thoughts on what victory means after years of dedication to the sport. “Victory is the accumulation of hard work, all the sacrifices you’ve made, to be committed to the sport. It all comes together as a form of assurance, a reward, to know that you haven’t wasted your time. A lot of people learn from losses, but a lot of people can get very disheartened as well. So when you win after a lot of hard work, it makes you feel a sense of justice to the work that you put in, and also gives you motivation to work harder,” Kohli said.
