Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s successful defence of their IPL title received high praise from franchise legend AB de Villiers, who hailed Virat Kohli’s match-winning innings in the IPL 2026 final as a perfect example of composure under pressure.
RCB clinched their second consecutive IPL trophy with a convincing five-wicket victory over Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on May 31. Chasing a target of 156, the Bengaluru side once again turned to their most dependable batter, Kohli, who delivered an unbeaten 75 off just 42 deliveries to guide his team home in commanding fashion.
AB de Villiers reflects on RCB’s remarkable title defence
Speaking after the final, De Villiers admitted that RCB appeared far more confident this season compared to their maiden title-winning campaign a year ago. According to the former South African captain, the experience of lifting the trophy previously helped the team approach the final with greater belief and clarity.
He noted that last season’s triumph carried significant emotional weight because the franchise had waited years to win its first IPL title. However, this year’s squad looked more settled and better prepared for the challenges of a high-pressure final.
De Villiers said he sensed a quiet confidence within the camp before the match and felt that the players now understood what was required to succeed on the biggest stage. He described winning back-to-back championships as a remarkable achievement and expressed immense pride in the franchise’s growth.
“It was a lot easier than last year, that’s for sure. Last year was emotional, and we weren’t sure what was going to happen. This year, when I saw Virat before the start of the game, there was a bit more quiet confidence. We’ve been here before, now we know how it works and what the formula is. And what a remarkable achievement, back-to-back IPL champions. I couldn’t be prouder,” said De Villiers on JioHotStar.
De Villiers hails Virat Kohli’s match-winning knock
The IPL final initially appeared evenly poised after Gujarat Titans posted 155/8 in their 20 overs. Washington Sundar played a fighting hand with an unbeaten half-century, but RCB’s disciplined bowling effort prevented the Titans from posting a more imposing total. When Bengaluru began their chase, Kohli once again took responsibility for guiding the innings. Mixing caution with aggression, the veteran opener ensured there were no major setbacks while steadily keeping the required run rate under control.
De Villiers highlighted Kohli’s ability to remain calm in tense situations, calling it one of the greatest strengths of his batting. He pointed out that finals often demand patience and game awareness rather than reckless strokeplay, qualities that Kohli has mastered throughout his career.
According to De Villiers, removing Kohli from that chase would have made the contest look completely different. He credited the Indian superstar for controlling the innings despite facing quality bowlers, including Rashid Khan, and ensuring that RCB never lost their grip on the match.
“In a final, if you take him out of that chasing batting order, then everything looks a bit different. With Rashid Khan firing from one end, and some of the other GT bowlers also doing really well, he just brings that calmness. He knows how to pace a chase right through the innings and finish it off,” De Villiers added.
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GT’s bowling plans backfire against Kohli
The former RCB great also felt Gujarat Titans made a tactical mistake by bowling too frequently into Kohli’s preferred scoring areas early in the innings. Several deliveries on the pads allowed the right-hander to settle quickly and find boundaries with ease. De Villiers explained that once a batter of Kohli’s calibre gets off to a comfortable start, stopping him becomes an extremely difficult task. He felt the chase became increasingly straightforward after Kohli found his rhythm and began dictating terms to the bowlers.
Fittingly, Kohli remained unbeaten until the end and struck the winning runs, bringing another memorable IPL campaign to a perfect conclusion. For De Villiers, it was the ideal ending to a final that once again showcased why Kohli remains one of the finest match-winners in the history of the tournament.
“And it’s very fitting that he was there right at the end, scoring the winning runs. GT were a bit naughty in feeding him into his strengths. A lot of deliveries were on the legs in his first 20-30 runs. If you give one of the best players of all time a start like that, he’s always going to punish you. Once he started flowing, it was just plain sailing, one-way traffic. To be there at the end and call those final moments was absolutely phenomenal,” De Villiers concluded.
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