Virat Kohli (Image credit: BCCI/IPL)
New Delhi: In a clear reflection during the RCB podcast, Virat Kohli He opened up about the raw emotion of finally breaking the IPL Championship jinx, RCB’s legacy, and why a triumph earlier in his career wouldn’t have felt an iota of special.For 18 long years, RCB bore the pressure of being the ‘almost champions’ of the IPL. No one has been more acutely affected by this mounting pressure than Virat Kohli. Reflecting on the breathtaking final moments of last year’s final, he revealed the weight of expectation that was weightless when the winning moment arrived. “It’s very difficult to put into words how I felt on the last four balls of the last over,” Kohli said. “When you look from the outside at what has happened to the franchise, how RCB has been seen as a big team for so many years, a big franchise that has never won…it’s something to observe and something to live for. And I’ve been through all these seasons.” Kohli said during the podcast.Kohli, who began his IPL journey with the franchise in the inaugural season in 2008 and was the only player retained by the management in 2011, noted that decades of heartbreak actually enhanced the joy of eventual victory.“I can say, with all honesty and clarity, that it was not 5 percent of the feeling that I won in the earlier years,” admitted Kohli, pointing to the accumulation of stress over nearly two decades. “For it to happen after 18 years, it couldn’t have been a better experience in my cricketing journey.” The historic win evoked pure emotion, not just from Kohli, but from the franchise icons who have built RCB’s legacy over the years. Pictures of Kohli celebrating like children with long-time teammates AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle quickly went viral.Kohli emphasized that the bond shared between the players and the city of Bengaluru goes far beyond professional agreements.“When people give so much of themselves to something, there is a very real and natural caring and an emotional connection,” Kohli explained. “AB became an icon in India when he started playing for us. What he did for the team was beyond words. Things fell into place with Chris as well. He was sitting at home, called mid-season, the season of his life, and within a week of coming to Bangalore, his life changed. So our franchise, our city, our team, our fans have been about impacting people in a natural way and I’ve felt that impact more than anyone over the course of 18 years. “Despite Gayle playing for other franchises later in his career, Kohli noted that the West Indian legend still has a ‘soft spot for RCB’ because of the impact the franchise and the city had on him.For the former Indian captain, the long title drought has completely changed his perspective on how he sees success. He said his approach evolved to understand the collective motivation that fans or the public provide for the trophy. “To be in a position where you can really make a positive difference in people’s lives … it’s an extraordinary opportunity. It’s a tremendous blessing.” Kohli concluded. Kohli also emphasized the evolving nature of the T20 format and how it has almost become a different game, not just a different format. He compared it to a fast-paced game of UEFA Champions League football, where one moment during the podcast can change the entire match.
