Gujarat Titans assistant coach Vijay Dahiya offered glowing praise for Virat Kohli after the RCB vs GT encounter on April 24, 2026. Kohli steered Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a commanding position with a masterful 81, but his immediate reaction showed exactly how high he sets the bar. Dahiya revealed that the former captain was genuinely frustrated about missing out on a century despite his massive contribution.
That kind of elite mindset has been the talk of the IPL 2026 season as veteran players face heavy scrutiny over their strike rates and longevity. Even though the surface at the Narendra Modi Stadium offered variable bounce and some occasional grip, Kohli moved around the crease to dismantle the Gujarat bowling attack.
Dahiya noted that Kohli forced world-class bowlers to scrap their plans, essentially deciding where they landed the ball by being so aggressive with his positioning. Beyond the boundaries, his physical conditioning is still the standard for the younger cricketers in the squad.
The way he ran between the wickets during the RCB vs GT game rattled fielders into making mistakes, showing his athletic prime is nowhere near over. Dahiya emphasised that Kohli has the game awareness and energy that makes difficult batting conditions look like a flat track.
The assistant coach highlighted how Kohli runs a game with a level of control that few others can match. By constantly finding gaps and rotating strike, he never let the Gujarat Titans build any real pressure. This performance just proves again that he is the heartbeat of the Bengaluru franchise in a season full of high-octane scoring.
"I think it's amazing. If you look at his energy. One thing is about skill; one thing is about game sense. But his awareness, his energy, and his willingness. After the game, I was just having a chat with him, and he was disappointed. He was saying that I could have converted this into a 100. I said, 'It's for somebody who doesn't know how to do it. You have been doing it day in and day out.' He made the surface look really easy. It wasn't an easy wicket," Dahiya told reporters at the post-match press conference.
"When you are playing and when you are commanding the situation, you make the bowler bowl where you want him to bowl. And that's the kind of innings Virat has played. Put pressure on the bowlers. And world-class bowlers. That's what Virat Kohli is all about. It's his mindset that sets him apart from many people. He's one of the best runners so far; he's pushing the youngsters on his side," he added.
Kohli’s sustained form makes life complicated for franchises planning a transition. I think the fact that he wasn't happy with an 81 shows his hunger is a huge asset for RCB’s brand and on-field stability. Many critics thought the 2026 cycle might be the start of a decline, but his ability to bully top-tier bowling says otherwise. His current path makes him indispensable, which will likely force the management to build their entire recruitment strategy around his aggressive anchoring role. As RCB vs GT shows his superiority, Virat Kohli remains the definitive match-winner.
