Ahead of the IPL 2026 season, Virat Kohli names the all-time best playing XI of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Surprisingly, the batting icon chose only one name from the team’s current squad.
Virat Kohli faced an extremely challenging situation when he was asked to name an all-time XI for the winners of IPL 2025. There was no surprise when he took the names of his two former teammates Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers. Till date, the trio share a strong bond between them.
Only 1 player from current set-up in Virat Kohli’s all-time RCB XI
Virat Kohli chose himself and ‘universal boss’ Chris Gayle for the starting two spots. The opening pair of Kohli and Gayle is considered to be one of the most dangerous opening pairs of the league so far.
For the number three position, the star Indian batsman named former South African international AB de Villiers, who was famous for hitting creative shots around the park. Virat chose KL Rahul and Rajat Patidar for the fourth and fifth positions.
Kohli said about Rajat Patidar in the video, “He played very well for us. And he is one of the best talents we have ever had.”
Rajat Patidar is the only cricketer from the current RCB team who has got a place in Virat’s all-time playing eleven. Patidar led Royal Challengers Bangalore to their first IPL title in the 2025 season as the captain of the team.
Virat’s favorite combination is number four batsman KL Rahul, who will play for Delhi Capitals in the upcoming Indian Premier League season. The versatile cricketer played for the Bengaluru-based franchise on two separate occasions. His first stint with the franchise was during the 2013 season; His second was in 2016.
As for the sixth batting position, it is former Indian keeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik, who shares a very close bond with the franchise. Karthik played an important role as the team’s mentor behind the team’s success in the IPL 2025 season. The batsmen also got a lot of help in his presence.
Harshal Patel’s surprising entry
Harshal Patel has made a surprising entry in the playing combination. Patel is not among the top talents who played for the Red and Black team. But still Virat is confident in his all-round abilities. Along with seaming the ball, Harshal Patel can also add good runs with the bat. The fast bowling all-rounder played for the team during two different stints: first from 2012 to 2017, and later from 2021 to 2023.
The great Anil Kumble and Yuzvendra Chahal are the two spinners in the special playing XI. And for fast bowling duties, Kohli voted for South African legend Dale Steyn and Australian star Mitchell Starc.
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spin-twinsFind out who is included in King Kohli’s all-time RCB XI
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PS: This video was recorded at the beginning of the IPL 2025 season. #playbold #নমমRCB pic.twitter.com/6uVeCFjegR
– Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) 16 March 2026
Virat Kohli’s all time RCB playing XI:
Openers: Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli.
Middle order: AB de Villiers, KL Rahul, Rajat Patidar, Dinesh Karthik.
Allrounder: Harshal Patel.
Bowlers: Anil Kumble, Mitchell Starc, Dale Steyn, Yuzvendra Chahal.
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