37 won't slow him down. A blistering fifty, quickest ever for him in T20s, lit up the night. Runs flowed like they always do when he's locked in. That final boundary, pure instinct. Dreams don't shout, they just arrive. RCB lifted the trophy again, two years strong now. GT stood tall but fell short.

Still standing at 75, Virat Kohli helped steer the run chase, closing yet another standout year for the team. After the victory, the legendary batter said ending the game on his own terms was something he’d pictured again and again.

"It is the stuff you dream of. I've thought about that moment many times, wanting to hit the winning run," Kohli said at the post-match presentation ceremony.

Virat Kohli embraces change as RCB thrives as a team

That quick 25-ball fifty? Kohli said it came from watching younger players swing without fear. Their boldness changed how he sees his own game now - less caution, more instinct.

"That's the demand of the game now. These super-young players are forcing you to raise your level," he said with a smile. "I had to change my mindset more than my game, take on bowlers earlier and find extra runs."
What stood out for Kohli this year was how many stepped up across the lineup. Across the opening ten games, Player of the match went to eight separate RCB players, proof of a group that shared the load.

"We've waited a long time for this kind of team. It feels great to walk onto the field knowing you don't have to do everything yourself. There are players around you who can win matches on their own," Kohli said.

Noticing how steady they stayed all season, he gave a nod to RCB’s bowlers. Josh Hazlewood stood out first. Then came Bhuvneshwar Kumar, reliable once again. Jacob Duffy followed close behind with his even performances. Krunal Pandya made the list too, never missing a beat. Rasikh Salam Dar rounded it off, showing up when needed most.

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"You can rely on players like Hazlewood and Bhuvi. Krunal has been outstanding as always, and Rasikh had a brilliant season. The bowlers gave us confidence in every situation," he said.

Putting together a well-rounded team lately, that’s what Kohli says has kept RCB strong. He points to the franchise leaders, giving them credit for building it right across recent seasons.
"I felt very relaxed during the chase because of the team we have. There is confidence in the group that we can handle any situation. We knew exactly how we wanted to approach the chase."

Focusing only on their game, the ex-captain said RCB didn’t waste time thinking about rivals during the tournament.
"Our first goal was to finish at the top of the table. After that, it didn't matter which jersey was in front of us. We respect every team, but we focus on our own game. We have experienced professionals, and that maturity shows in pressure situations."

When pressure peaks, Virat Kohli says veterans must show up. Their job isn’t just skill, it’s timing. Big moments need presence, not promises. He sees experience as weight carried forward. Expectation rests heavier on older shoulders.

Performance becomes non-negotiable under lights like these. What matters most shows up late in games. Leaders by tenure can't fade when noise grows loud. The field changes once the crowd leans in. Trust builds through action at critical points.

"In big moments, the senior players need to step up. I knew they would come hard at me early in the chase, but I also knew we had a champion team capable of finishing the job comfortably."

Also read: Cricket news