Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fans finally got the moment they’ve been waiting for – Virat Kohli is coming back. The star-studded Bengaluru came out on top IPL 2026 and joined the RCB camp, officially starting their franchise title defense. For fans, it wasn’t just the next coming; it felt like a king returning to his kingdom.
RCB welcomes King Kohli
Known for their creative social media presence, RCB has made sure Kohli’s comeback is anything but ordinary. Teasing his arrival, the franchise wrote: “You don’t have to see it to know it’s coming! Check the calendar. There will be signs… #PlayBold RCB #IPL2026.”
You don’t have to see it to know it’s coming! Check the calendar. There will be signs… ✨❤️#PlayBold #OurRCB #IPL2026 pic.twitter.com/qv8tA5ZCrA
– Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) March 18, 2026
And almost immediately those “signs” began to appear in the city. From the flashing traffic signals of the number 18 – Kohli’s iconic jersey – to fans gathering outside the main venues hoping to catch a glimpse, Bengaluru buzzed with excitement. It was a reminder of the deep bond between Kohli and the city, forged over nearly two decades of loyalty and passion.
This return carries more emotion as Kohli returns to the Chinnaswamy stadium as the IPL champion for the first time. After years of boredom and heartbreak, the long wait is finally over in 2025, and now he returns not just as a legend, but as a title holder who wants to achieve more.
Kohli hits the nets, eyes milestones and another big IPL season
It didn’t take long for Kohli to get into a groove. Soon after his arrival, he was seen training at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium which lasted for about two hours until the rain ended. Network sharing Devdutt PadikkalKohli looked sharp, confident and in control.
Time has passed.
The seasons have changed.What about this city? Still his. ❤️
This throne? Still his. 👑And our Онлы 𝗧рUE 𝗞KING👗 love is getting stronger day by day. 🥹
Our Virat Kohli is back where he belongs, his home, Bengaluru for a new story. ❤️🔥
So the 12th Army!… pic.twitter.com/PDLQzL96SI
– Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) March 19, 2026
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Interestingly, RCB opted for an in-house training setup using their own bowlers like Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Venkatesh Iyer instead of foreign net bowlers. This added more match-like intensity to the session, allowing players to prepare in realistic scenarios.
Kohli comes into IPL 2026 on the back of a stellar previous season, where he finished as RCB’s top run-scorer with 657 runs in 15 innings. His composed strike in the final was instrumental in guiding the team to a historic title win.
Now, as he prepares for another campaign, there are several milestones to reach. Already the highest run-scorer in IPL history, Kohli is nearing the 9,000-run mark – a feat that no other player has achieved so far. Furthermore, he is closing in on becoming the first cricketer to score 10,000 T20 runs for a franchise, a testament to his unwavering loyalty to RCB.
A bigger global stage is also on the horizon. With over 13,500 runs in T20 cricket, Kohli is not far away from joining the elite club of 14,000 – placing him among the format’s all-time greats.
As RCB prepare to open their campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on March 28, the focus will be on Kohli – not just for his runs, but for the energy and confidence he brings to the side.
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