Kohli played a pivotal role in RCB’s maiden IPL title win in 2025.
Highlighting his 18-year journey and deep-rooted bond with the city, Kumble noted that Kohli's legacy is unmatched, driven by intense fan loyalty in Bengaluru.
"Yes, RCB’s identity is still built around him. If you look back at RCB over the last 10-12 years, it has always been about someone like Virat Kohli. Once he took over the captaincy in 2013, it has been about his presence with the franchise. Of course, AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle received a similar kind of support. I was fascinated when AB walked in to play his 100th Test match at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, you could see the kind of reception he received even while representing South Africa. That shows the kind of love people of Bengaluru have for RCB and for Virat. Like we speak about MS (Dhoni) and CSK, Virat and RCB will always be synonymous, and I don’t think that will change. That legacy will remain," Kumble said on Star Sports' IPL Today Live.
Kohli played a pivotal role in RCB’s maiden IPL title win in 2025, scoring 657 runs in 15 innings at an average of 54.75 and a strike rate of 144.71.
Kumble highlighted Kohli's elite, evolving mindset, suggesting the latter may introduce new strokes like the reverse scoop in the 19th edition of IPL, similar to how AB de Villiers constantly reinvented himself to stay ahead.
"Great players always look to improve, they are never satisfied. Every season, you want to make corrections, not just for the team but also for your own growth and to challenge yourself. Don’t be surprised if he comes into this season with a different outlook, perhaps trying something like the scoop shot or the reverse scoop. We have seen AB de Villiers do that consistently over the years, and Virat could add that to his batting repertoire as well. Great players like him are constantly looking to evolve, improve, and challenge themselves," he remarked.