Royal Challengers Bengaluru head coach Andy Flower declared the franchise 'very lucky' to have Virat Kohli in the dressing room, describing the veteran batter's hunger and drive as 'genuinely inspiring', after RCB successfully defended their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 title with a five-wicket win over Gujarat Titans in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on 1 June 2026.

Kohli's Match-Winning Knock

Kohli delivered under pressure when it mattered most, smashing an unbeaten 75 off 42 balls — laced with nine fours and three sixes — as RCB completed a chase of 156 to retain the title they first claimed at the same venue in 2025. Notably, Kohli reached his fifty in just 25 balls, the fastest half-century of his entire IPL career.

What Andy Flower Said

Speaking at a virtual press conference on Monday, Flower was effusive in his praise. 'His hunger and drive — it's genuinely inspiring. Even for older blokes like me, seeing someone as hungry and driven, as disciplined and as ambitious as he still is, it's wonderful to witness. And we're very lucky to have him in the dressing room,' said Flower.

The former Zimbabwe captain, who guided England to the 2010 Men's T20 World Cup title, elaborated on the standards Kohli sets. 'He sets certain standards, like standards of intensity in the field, for instance, that means that anyone falling below those is going to stand out like a sore thumb. So we don't need coaches driving intensity on standards in the field, because he's living it and doing it. And everyone else has to raise their games to get anywhere near it,' Flower added.

He also pointed to Kohli's evident love for the craft: 'He works hard at his game, but you can see that he loves it as well. He loves batting. He loves hitting a ball. He loves the feeling of the ball meeting the middle of the bat.'

Patidar on Leading Alongside Kohli

RCB skipper Rajat Patidar acknowledged that Kohli's presence has been central to his own growth as a leader. 'His presence makes a lot of difference. For me, it's great learning. Whenever I'm around him on the field and off the field, I always notice him,' Patidar said.

'Whenever I have some kind of doubts regarding the leadership role or taking any decision, I always go to Virat bhai. For me, it's a great opportunity to learn from the best and the greats of cricket,' he added. Under Patidar's captaincy, RCB have now claimed back-to-back IPL titles, shedding their long-standing reputation as perennial underachievers. Patidar himself was exceptional throughout the campaign, scoring 501 runs at a strike rate of 192.69, including a match-winning 93 not out in Qualifier 1.

Season Standouts and Praise for Sooryavanshi

Patidar singled out Rajasthan Royals opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi — aged just 15 — as the standout performer of the season. Sooryavanshi won the Orange Cap with 776 runs, dominating attacks throughout the tournament. 'He just didn't play; he dominated every top bowler. The way he played his shots, he's amazing,' Patidar said.

Patidar also received a compliment from Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer, who called him the 'most stylish performer' of the season — a nod Patidar graciously returned, recalling how watching Iyer in Ranji Trophy cricket had shaped his own mindset as a young batter.

What This Means for RCB

Back-to-back IPL crowns represent a genuine transformation for a franchise that spent over a decade as one of the tournament's most high-profile nearly-men. With Kohli's influence, Patidar's emergence as a leader, and a coaching setup that includes Dinesh Karthik and director of cricket Mo Bobat, RCB appear well-positioned to challenge again in 2027.