Our Bureau
Bengaluru
Virat Kohli, the star batter for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), faces high hopes as IPL 2026 kicks off soon. Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif believes Kohli will silence his critics with a strong show. He says the break from Test cricket has left Kohli with a fresh mind.
Kaif knows Kohli’s fire well. The RCB hero retired from Tests after tough times, stepping away from T20Is too. His last India game was an ODI against New Zealand on January 18. Now, free from red-ball pressure, Kohli looks sharper in 50-over matches. Kaif points out that switching formats is easy for him after years of doing it for India. “It will not make a difference. In fact, it will benefit him,” Kaif said. He adds that other batters might struggle after a two-month break, but not Kohli.
Critics question if retirement hurt Kohli’s edge. Kaif disagrees. He calls Kohli’s drive endless and says the star won’t drop his game. Last year, RCB won IPL 2025 with Kohli’s big runs. Fans expect more as RCB defends the title against SunRisers Hyderabad on March 28.
This IPL matters for Kohli. At 37, he plays only ODIs and IPL. His hunger shows in practice. Kaif’s words boost team spirit. RCB aims to repeat last year’s joy.
