New Delhi, March 12: Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan believes that Virat Kohli will be hungrier than ever to win consecutive Indian Premier League (IPL) titles after leading Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to their first trophy in 2025.
Kohli played a crucial role in RCB’s IPL 2025 victory, scoring 43 runs in the final against Punjab Kings. He accumulated 657 runs over 15 matches in the previous season, making him the top scorer for RCB.
Pathan stated on ‘JioStar’, “Kohli’s hunger will remain intact. In fact, he will be hungrier than ever, especially after lifting the IPL trophy last season. He will want to win the IPL title consistently. This desire to win and make an impact will always be there.”
He also noted that Kohli’s passion was evident in his recent international matches, particularly during the ODI series against South Africa and New Zealand. “We saw this when he played for India. It seems he wants to make an impact in every match. I believe he will return with the same passion this season and will want to lift the trophy again,” Pathan added.
RCB will kick off their IPL 2026 campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on March 28.
Left-handed top-order batsman Devdutt Padikkal scored 247 runs at a strike rate of 150.60 in 10 matches last season. Pathan expects Padikkal to play a key role in RCB’s campaign this time as well.
“Devdutt Padikkal is set to be a crucial player for RCB’s success in IPL 2026. He has scored runs in all formats of domestic cricket. He looks like a much better player now. There was a time when he struggled, but that is behind him. Padikkal is now a different player, full of confidence,” Pathan remarked.
He added, “What I like most about RCB is that they used to rely heavily on Kohli, AB de Villiers, and Chris Gayle to win matches. That has changed now. Their entire playing eleven is filled with match-winners, which is fantastic.”
Pathan also mentioned that if injured Josh Hazlewood does not return for the tournament, RCB has strong backup options. “Before heading into IPL 2026, RCB will have concerns regarding some injured players, especially Hazlewood’s fitness. The good thing is that they have solid backups. The duo of Nuwan Tushara and Jacob Duffy can effectively cover for Hazlewood’s fitness issues, making RCB even stronger.”
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.