As the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 approaches, Royal Challengers Bengaluru find themselves in a position that once felt almost out of reach—defending champions. Last season, they finally ended a 17-year wait for their maiden title. Now, the team is gearing up to defend the title. During the team’s opening training session at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Kohli delivered a clear and focused message to his teammates, asking them to stay switched on and value every moment. Unlike previous seasons, when RCB entered the tournament hoping to prove themselves, this year brings the burden of defending their crown.
"We worked really hard over the last two to three seasons to achieve what we did last year, and it's only going to get tougher because the other teams are going to come hard at us," Kohli said, in a video posted by the Royal Challengers Bengaluru on X.
"We don't waste these days. We stay ahead. So, switch on now. Let's not waste even a minute of any session we are part of. We must give our 120% for these two and a half months. I can see from everyone's faces that we are excited enough to be challengers," he added.
RCB head coach Andy Flower highlighted the importance of having the first two games at home ground, asking the side to take advantage of that. Notably, RCB are set to begin their IPL 2026 campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 28 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. RCB's second game against CSK will also be at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.
"Our first game is here at Chinnaswamy, which is a fantastic opportunity for us to build momentum early and be welcomed by our home fans. The outfield is looking superb, lush, green and beautiful," he said.