In the world of cricket, few players have the same impact as Virat Kohli. The former India captain is a force to be reckoned with, and his influence extends far beyond the boundaries of the pitch. When it comes to the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Kohli's presence is like a beacon of light, lifting the standards of the entire team. His intensity, work ethic, and never-say-die attitude to win have made him the heartbeat of RCB, and the 2026 IPL season was no exception.
As the franchise's highest run-scorer and the fourth-highest overall in the tournament, Kohli's performance was nothing short of remarkable. With 675 runs in 16 matches at an average of 56.25 and a strike rate of 165.85, including a match-winning 75 in the final against Gujarat Titans, he was undoubtedly the star of the show. But it's not just his batting prowess that makes him so special. It's the way he conducts himself, the hunger he still has to perform and win, and his ability to inspire those around him.
RCB all-rounder Krunal Pandya, who was part of the franchise's back-to-back title-winning campaigns in 2025 and 2026, spoke at length about Kohli's influence on the team and his own career. In my opinion, Krunal's words perfectly capture the essence of Kohli's impact. He said, 'He leads by example. The hunger he still has to perform and win is inspiring. Sometimes people get satisfied after one or two successes, but then you see someone who has made excellence a habit. You can still see his love for the game. If that love and hunger remain constant, the sky is the limit.'
What makes this particularly fascinating is the way Kohli's competitive spirit and obsession with winning have served as a source of personal inspiration for Krunal. As an all-rounder, Krunal plays aggressive cricket and loves winning, and Kohli's presence in the dressing room has been a constant reminder of the importance of these values. 'One hundred per cent,' Krunal said when asked whether Kohli had influenced him personally. 'We have similarities in the way we approach the game. Over the years, I have spent a lot of time with him. Sharing a dressing room with him has been special. He is a leader in every sense of the word.'
What many people don't realize is that Kohli's impact goes beyond the field. His presence in the dressing room is enough to lift the standards of the entire team, and his influence extends to the way he conducts himself and the values he embodies. In my opinion, Kohli's impact on RCB is a testament to the power of leadership and the importance of a strong work ethic. It's a reminder that excellence is a habit that can be cultivated, and that the love for the game is the fuel that drives us to new heights.
If you take a step back and think about it, Kohli's impact on RCB is a microcosm of the larger trend of leadership and excellence in sports. It raises a deeper question: what makes a leader truly great? In my view, it's not just the achievements on the field, but the way they inspire and motivate those around them. Kohli's impact on RCB is a shining example of this, and it's a reminder that the true measure of a leader is not just their own success, but the success of those they lead.
