Mumbai: Speaking on RCB’s Historic Title Win on Kuhl Fans Match Centre Live on JioHotstar, Virat Kohli shared an emotional reflection on the moment, alongside franchise legends AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle present: “What made it even more special was having AB right there at the boundary line during the last two overs. I told him, ‘I’m going to go (cry), it’s too much to take.’ I had to hold back tears during the last three balls of that innings—only he knows how that feels. Sharing this moment with AB and Chris means everything to me. I spent my prime years playing alongside them. We tried so hard, came so close, and had such an explosive team back then—but we could never cross the line. That hurt stays with you, because we gave everything to this franchise. This win feels ten times more special because those two (Gayle and de Villiers) were standing next to me. It’s as much theirs as it is mine. You see it when they come to Bengaluru —the love people have for them is unreal. It’s because fans recognize how much heart and soul they poured into this team. They absolutely deserve this as much as I do. This (trophy) is equally theirs.”
On the role of the entire RCB team in the victory, Kohli commented: “The character in that dressing room this year was phenomenal. I spoke to AB (de Villiers) and even he said, ‘I’ve got this exciting feeling about this team’. You look at players like Jitesh, Rajat, Mayank—guys who came in from nowhere—and Devdutt, everyone stepped up. There was this sharpness, this quiet confidence in their eyes. They wanted it badly. And then the bowling—unbelievable. I don’t think RCB has ever come back into a tournament with the ball like we did this year. Honestly, our bowlers won us this title. Everyone did their job perfectly. Krunal Pandya’s spell will be remembered for a long, long time. To bowl like that under pressure, as a finger spinner, and take those two critical wickets—that was exceptional. This was a total team effort.”
On the unwavering support of RCB fans, Kohli commented:“I said it straight away—this title is as much for the fans as it is for us. These people have backed us relentlessly for 18 years. We’ve had horrible seasons and great ones too, but they turned up for every game in Bengaluru. I’ve never seen loyalty like that. That’s what made me stay. That’s why I never wavered from RCB. It’s also why this win is so special. These fans truly are loyally royal.”
On the support of his wife, Anushka Sharma, Kohli commented: “She’s been coming to support RCB since 2014—it’s been 11 years for her too. Through all the tough games, the heartbreaks, she’s been there. What your life partner does for you to be able to perform professionally—the sacrifices, the emotional strength—it’s hard to put into words. Only someone in professional sports can understand the pressure and what happens behind the scenes. Anushka has seen me at my lowest, and she’s always stood by me. So this moment is incredibly special for her too. She’s going to be so, so proud.”
JioStar Expert Matthew Hayden also reflected on Virat Kohli’s legacy and RCB’s historic triumph: “Firstly, it’s remarkable how respectful Virat has been to this franchise. He’s given his youth, his heart, his soul—his entire focus—to RCB. He’s supported not just the team but also the champions before him—legends like AB de Villiers, the Universe Boss Chris Gayle, Shane Watson, and many others who didn’t get the opportunity he had tonight: to sit on the throne and be crowned king of the TATA IPL. The TATA IPL 2025 will be forever etched in the annals of cricket—not just for Virat Kohli, but for the RCB fans who stood by them through thick and thin. It shows how consistency and belief can finally lead to a title. Over the past five years, they’ve always been close—and now, they’ve crossed the line.”
JioStar expert Sanjay Bangar also commented on what made the difference for RCB in TATA IPL 2025 : “This season, RCB leaned more on experience. In previous years, we saw a focus on younger, developing talent—players who hadn’t quite mature into finished products. But this time, the Indian core of the squad was made up of players who had touched the international stage, even if they hadn’t had long runs there, such as Devdutt Padikkal, Jitesh Sharma, Yash Dayal, and Rajat Patidar. They’ve all had brushes with international cricket—some even played Tests. That kind of exposure brings resilience and better decision-making under pressure. When you combine those players with four overseas stars, it results in a team where 9 or 10 members have international-level experience. That drastically reduces the inexperience factor, and it shows in on-field decisions that match the demands of the game. The leadership structure also helped—having a new captain, supported by Virat Kohli’s guidance on the field, added balance. And then there were smart acquisitions—Josh Hazlewood and especially Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who in my view is one of the IPL’s greatest bowlers. His inclusion was a game-changer. All of these elements came together this year, which is why this RCB side could go all the way—something past squads couldn’t quite manage.”
