Irfan Pathan, a former Indian all-rounder, believes Virat Kohli will be more motivated than ever as he looks to defend his Indian Premier League (IPL) crown. Kohli finally secured his first IPL trophy after leading Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to victory over Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the IPL 2025 final at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium.

The triumph ended Kohli’s 18-year pursuit of the elusive IPL title, having been with RCB since the league’s inaugural season. Following this long-awaited success, Pathan expects Kohli to carry the same determination into the next season, aiming to repeat his team’s championship feat.

“Virat Kohli’s hunger will remain, and in fact, it will be stronger than ever, especially after winning the IPL last season. He’ll be determined to secure back-to-back IPL titles. That drive to win and make an impact is always present in him. We’ve seen it in his performances for India, particularly during the one-day series against South Africa and New Zealand. He seems eager to influence every match, and I believe he’ll bring that same passion when he returns this season. His goal will be to lift the trophy once again,” Pathan said on JioHotstar.

Ahead of IPL 2026, Kohli has been spotted practising intensively in the nets. A recent video on his Instagram shows him honing a wide range of shots, from aggressive lofted strikes to traditional drives.

RCB will open their IPL 2026 campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on March 28 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The team will play five league matches at home and will also use the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Raipur for two matches.

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