AB de Villiers Salutes Virat Kohli’s Final Masterclass as RCB Retain IPL Crown
AB de Villiers said RCB looked calmer this year and that Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 75 in the IPL 2026 final turned the chase into one-way traffic.
By SportCricket Desk · 1 Jun 2026 · 2 min read
AB de Villiers has praised Virat Kohli’s performance in the IPL 2026 final, saying that once Kohli found his rhythm the chase became one-way traffic. De Villiers also felt RCB’s second straight title was a more controlled win than the first.
The final
At the Narendra Modi Stadium on May 31, Gujarat Titans were put in and finished on 155 for 8. Washington Sundar top-scored with an unbeaten 50 off 37 balls, but disciplined RCB bowling stopped Gujarat building momentum.
Kohli then stayed not out on 75 off 42 deliveries, with nine fours and three sixes, taking RCB home comfortably.
De Villiers’ view
Speaking on JioStar, De Villiers said this year was much easier than last, which he described as emotional and uncertain. When he saw Kohli before the game, he noticed a quieter confidence. The team, he said, now knows the formula, and he called the back-to-back triumph remarkable.
On Kohli’s knock, De Villiers said that removing him from a final’s chasing order would change everything. With Rashid Khan and other Gujarat bowlers doing well, Kohli brought calm and knew how to pace a chase and close it out.
He added that it was fitting Kohli hit the winning runs. In his view Gujarat erred by feeding the batter deliveries on his pads early, and once such a player gets a start he punishes it. Finishing the job, he said, was phenomenal.
