Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) Fans finally got the moment they’ve been waiting for – Virat Kohli Is back. The star batsman arrived in Bengaluru ahead of IPL 2026 and joined the RCB camp, officially beginning the franchise’s title defence. For fans, this wasn’t just another arrival; It felt as if a king had returned to his kingdom.
RCB welcomed King Kohli
RCB, known for its creative social media presence, made sure that Kohli’s comeback was anything but ordinary. Announcing his arrival, the franchise posted: “You don’t need to see it… to know it’s coming! Check the calendar. There will be signs… #PlayboldRCB #IPL2026.”
You don’t have to see him to know he’s coming! Check the calendar. There will be signs…#playbold #নমমRCB #IPL2026 pic.twitter.com/qv8tA5ZCrA
– Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) 18 March 2026
And almost immediately, those “signs” began appearing all over the city. From the number 18 – Kohli’s iconic jersey – flashing on traffic signals to fans gathering outside key venues in the hope of catching a glimpse, Bengaluru was abuzz with excitement. It is a reminder of the deep bond between Kohli and the city built on loyalty and passion spanning almost two decades.
This return brings even more emotion as, for the first time, Kohli steps back into the Chinnaswamy Stadium as an IPL champion. After years of near-misses and heartbreak, the long wait ended in 2025, and now he returns not just as a legend – but as a title winner aiming for more.
Kohli practicing in the nets, eyes milestones and another big IPL season
It did not take long for Kohli to get into rhythm. Soon after arriving, he was seen training in a session at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, which lasted for about two hours due to rain. Sharing the nets with Devdutt Padikkal, Kohli looked sharp, confident and in control.
Time passed by.
The seasons changed.But this city? Still his. ❤️
This throne? Still his. 👑And our love for 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗲 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴 grows stronger by the day. 🥹
Our Virat Kohli has returned to his home in Bengaluru for a new story. ❤️🔥🔥
So, the 12th Man Army!… pic.twitter.com/PDLQzL96SI
– Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) 19 March 2026
Interestingly, RCB opted for an in-house training setup, using their own bowlers like Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Venkatesh Iyer instead of external net bowlers. This added more match-like intensity to the sessions, allowing players to prepare in realistic scenarios.
Kohli comes into IPL 2026 on the back of a stellar performance last season, where he scored 657 runs in 15 innings and finished as RCB’s top run-scorer. His patient innings in the final played an important role in helping the team win the historic title.
Now, as he prepares for another campaign, many milestones are within reach. Already the leading run-scorer in IPL history, Kohli is inching closer to the 9,000-run mark – a feat no player has reached before. Additionally, he is also inching closer to becoming the first cricketer to score 10,000 T20 runs for a single franchise, which is a testament to his unmatched loyalty towards RCB.
There’s also a big global milestone on the horizon. With over 13,500 runs in T20 cricket, Kohli is not far away from joining the exclusive club of 14,000 runs – making him among the all-time greats of the format.
As RCB prepares to begin their campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on March 28, the focus will be entirely on Kohli – not just for his runs, but for the energy and belief he brings to the team.