Virat Kohli delivered an emotional dressing-room speech after Royal Challengers Bengaluru pulled off a thrilling last-ball two-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians in their IPL 2026 clash on Sunday.
Despite being dismissed for a golden duck, Kohli praised the team’s fighting spirit and singled out Krunal Pandya and Bhuvneshwar Kumar for their match-winning performances.
“Hey guys, I’m gonna keep it short. Thanks, Andy (Flower), for giving me a chance to do something in the game today,” Kohli joked while addressing the squad.
“But guys, if you want to win multi-team competitions, we need a team effort. We need games like that. We need to scrap for wins and fight hard,” he added.
Kohli reserved special praise for veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who starred with the ball once again.
“Bhuvi, brilliant in the Powerplay. Your execution and your skills are absolutely world-class. I think it was your sixth three-wicket haul of the season in 11 games, which is crazy,” Kohli said.
Bhuvneshwar, who finished with figures of 4/23, credited confidence and execution for his consistent performances this season.
“The good thing is that whatever I’m trying to do, it’s happening. I think it’s all about confidence. Once you start getting a few good matches, your confidence goes up. My execution has been spot on, and I’m also getting support from the fielders,” Bhuvneshwar said.
Kohli also lauded Romario Shepherd for his bowling effort.
“Shefi, the way you bowled tonight was top-notch. You showed us what you can do when you’re confident with the ball in hand. You have the skill, and we all back you to execute it every time,” he said.
The former RCB captain also praised contributions from Suyash Sharma and Rasikh Salam Dar.
“KP, you can always be banked upon under pressure in any kind of situation. Brilliant again with the ball. Suyash did his job, and Rasikh was excellent too,” Kohli added.
Reflecting on the chase, Kohli admitted RCB did not get off to the best start but highlighted the partnerships that kept the team alive.
“With the bat, we didn’t start well, but just like the last game, guys stepped up. Rajat did it in the previous match, and tonight KP and Tim David made crucial contributions. Those partnerships changed the game for us,” he said.
Kohli then showered Krunal Pandya with praise for what he described as one of the finest knocks under pressure he had seen.
“I think it’s one of the best knocks I’ve seen under pressure. The pitch was uneven, balls were keeping low and bouncing awkwardly, but you never made excuses. You showed us how to grind and find solutions,” Kohli said.
“Even when you were cramping, those two sixes made the difference. You could have easily walked off, but you found the strength to carry on. The whole group can take inspiration from that innings,” he added.
Speaking about Krunal’s innings later, Kohli said he was especially impressed by the all-rounder’s game awareness and composure during the chase.
“What was nice to see was the way he played the situation. He took his time, picked the bowlers to target, and built partnerships. You could sense the purpose in the middle. It was amazing to watch,” Kohli concluded.
