The Virat effect: RCB coach hails Kohli's impact in team after IPL title defence

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) head coach Andy Flower has praised Virat Kohli for the standards he sets within the team, saying the former captain's hunger and discipline continue to inspire everyone in the dressing room after RCB defended their IPL title with a five-wicket win over Gujarat Titans in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium.Kohli played a key role in the title win, remaining unbeaten on 75 off 42 balls with nine fours and three sixes as RCB chased down 156. He also reached his half-century in 25 balls, the fastest fifty of his IPL career. Speaking after the triumph, Flower said Kohli's attitude has a major influence on the squad.“You asked about Virat’s hunger and how that affects him. When I was in the dressing room last night after the game, I mentioned it actually. His hunger and drive it’s genuinely inspiring. Even for older blokes like me, seeing someone as hungry and driven, as disciplined and as ambitious as he still is, it’s wonderful to witness. And we’re very lucky to have him in the dressing room," Flower said in a virtual press conference on Monday, as quoted by news agency IANS.“He sets certain standards, like standards of intensity in the field, for instance, that means that anyone falling below those is going to stand out like a sore thumb. So we don’t need coaches driving intensity on standards in the field, for instance, because he’s living it and doing it. And everyone else has to raise their games to get anywhere near it.”Flower also highlighted Kohli's passion for batting and the example he provides during training sessions.“He works hard at his game, but you can see that he loves it as well. He loves batting. He loves hitting a ball. He loves the feeling of the ball meeting the middle of the bat. I would imagine the craft and mastery that he feels when he’s got a bat in his hands. Again, those standards are easy for people in our training sessions to see, and certainly it just helps everyone head in the right direction.”RCB captain Rajat Patidar also credited Kohli for helping him develop as a leader since taking charge of the franchise ahead of the 2025 season.“Regarding Virat bhai, as I said in many press conferences and interviews, his presence makes a lot of difference. For me, it's great learning. Whenever I’m around him on the field and off the field, I always notice him. I don’t speak much, but I always notice him.“But whenever I have some kind of doubts regarding the leadership role or taking any decision, I always go to Virat bhai. For me, it’s a great opportunity to learn from the best and the greats of cricket. So, their ideas, inputs, and experience are definitely helping me a lot to grow in my new leadership role.”Under Patidar, RCB have now won back-to-back IPL titles. The skipper also enjoyed a strong season with the bat, scoring 501 runs at a strike rate of 192.69, including an unbeaten 93 in Qualifier 1.