RCB will face SRH in the IPL 2026 tournament opener on March 28 in Bengaluru.
De Villiers stated that Kohli's presence continues to motivate the group, particularly the younger players, cementing his enduring legacy at RCB.
RCB will start their IPL 2026 tournament on March 28 against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Expectations are high for Kohli and the team as they work to defend their title after their successful season last year.
“Virat definitely is still the heartbeat of the franchise. Not only through his performances and the consistency he has achieved with the bat over the years, but also through his presence and the energy he brings to the squad. The way he conducts himself on and off the field, always fighting for the team, stands out. He brings that energy and makes the youngsters believe that they can ultimately go on and win the trophy, which RCB did last year," AB de Villiers was quoted as saying to JioHotstar.
“What I liked about last season, yes, he was one of the main run-scorers on the team, as openers usually are, but there were other players who stepped in. In the past, RCB were often guilty of relying on just two, three, or four players performing consistently. This time, I felt the entire team chipped in," he added.
Considering the team's performance in the IPL 2025 final, where RCB won their first trophy and ended their title drought, De Villiers said, “The final is a great example, with Virat scoring 43 runs off 35 balls. But it was actually Patidar, Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma, and Romario Shepherd who scored at a high strike rate and helped the team post 190-plus, ultimately winning the game. Krunal Pandya also chipped in with the ball."
He emphasized the team effort, pointing out that having a diverse team around Kohli enhances his leadership.
“That’s my point, players contributing like that throughout the season, and the bowling attack stepping up. Virat can feel that; he can sense that he is not the only one carrying the load anymore. He has a squad of fighters around him, all gunning to win the trophy. I think they are in a really good place. It’s a similar squad; they didn’t have to change much, and they have good reason to believe they can go all the way again this coming season," he said.