IPL 2026: Virat Kohli’s Relentless Hunger, Padikkal’s Form And Patidar’s Captaincy Challenge Key For RCB In This Season- Anil Kumble And Irfan Pathan

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Royal Challengers Bangalore will enter the TATA IPL 2026 Season as the defending champions and eyeing to win back-to-back trophies, joining an elite list where only the Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings have reached so far. One of the crucial players for the Bangalore-based franchise will once again be Virat Kohli, who will be returning to the T20 circuit after a long time.

Speaking on JioHotstar's 'Game Plan- Know Your Team', cricket experts Irfan Pathan and Anil Kumble analysed Virat Kohli's unrelenting hunger to win, the challenges that Rajat Patidar will face in his second season as captain, and the fitness concerns surrounding Australian fast bowler Josh Hazelwood.

Irfan Pathan On Virat Kohli's Relentless Hunger

Speaking on JioHotstar's Game Plan- Know Your Team, former cricketer Irfan Pathan shared his thoughts on Virat Kohli's relentless hunger to win games for his side.

"The hunger in Virat Kohli will be there. In fact, he will be hungrier than ever, especially after lifting the IPL trophy last season. He will want to win back-to-back IPL trophies. That hunger in him to win and create an impact is always going to be there," Pathan said.

He said that it was evident during the player's time with India, especially in the ODI series against South Africa and New Zealand, that he always looked eager to make an impact in every match. He added that he believed the player would bring the same passion when he returned this season and would aim to lift the trophy once again.

Pathan On Devdutt Padikkal's Form

Speaking on the show, Irfan Pathan said that Devdutt Padikkal will play a crucial role in RCB's campaign in IPL 2026. Highlighting the left-hander's outstanding domestic form across formats, Pathan said that Padikkal has rediscovered his rhythm and now looks like a far more confident and complete batter as compared to the period when he struggled with timing and consistency.

Anil Kumble Backs Devdutt Padikkal To Play Key Role For RCB In IPL 2026

Former India captain Anil Kumble believes Devdutt Padikkal could be a crucial figure in Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) campaign in IPL 2026, highlighting the left-hander's impressive domestic form and renewed confidence with the bat.

Speaking on JioHotstar's 'Game Plan - Know Your Team', Kumble said Padikkal has shown significant improvement in recent times after overcoming a difficult phase earlier in his career.

Kumble pointed out that Padikkal has been scoring consistently across formats in domestic cricket and now looks like a far more confident and complete batter. He noted that the youngster had previously struggled with timing, but those issues now appear to be firmly behind him.

The former RCB captain also praised the transformation in the team's overall structure. According to Kumble, the franchise once depended heavily on star players such as Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle to deliver match-winning performances. However, he believes the current squad has far greater depth, with multiple players capable of turning games on their own.

Despite the strong squad, Kumble acknowledged that RCB could face some injury concerns heading into the new season, particularly regarding the fitness of fast bowler Josh Hazlewood. However, he added that the team has prepared well by securing reliable backup options like Nuwan Thushara and Jacob Duffy, who could step in if needed.

Rajat Patidar Faces Tough Task As Captain

Kumble also spoke about the challenge awaiting Rajat Patidar, who will lead RCB in IPL 2026 after guiding them to the title last season.

He said defending the trophy would not be easy, noting that only Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians have previously managed to win IPL titles in consecutive seasons. Kumble admitted that Patidar's appointment as captain initially surprised many observers, as there was widespread expectation that Virat Kohli might return to the role.

However, he credited the RCB management for placing their faith in Patidar, who had earlier gained captaincy experience with Madhya Pradesh in domestic cricket. Kumble added that Patidar handled his responsibilities well, particularly in managing the bowling resources and getting the best out of the team's spin attack.

While expectations will be significantly higher this season, Kumble believes Patidar's calm and composed approach under pressure could help him succeed in the leadership role.

Venkatesh Iyer Unlikely To Start In Playing XI

Discussing the possible team combination, Kumble suggested that Venkatesh Iyer may not feature in the starting XI at the beginning of the season.

According to him, RCB would likely stick with the core group of players who helped them win the title after an 18-year wait. He indicated that Padikkal is expected to be part of the playing XI despite missing a few key matches last season due to injury, as he is currently in excellent batting form.

Kumble also explained that RCB may continue with the impact player strategy used last season. Padikkal could serve as the impact batter when RCB bowl first, while Suyash Sharma could take the role of bowling impact player when the team bats first.

However, he added that team combinations could still change depending on player form during practice sessions and early matches.

Overseas Combination For RCB

On the overseas players, Kumble said Romario Shepherd and Tim David are likely to play together in the starting XI because of their ability to finish games with the bat.

He also confirmed that Phil Salt is expected to be a regular starter, while Josh Hazlewood would be an automatic choice if he is fully fit. According to Kumble, the remaining overseas slots would likely go to Tim David and Romario Shepherd.

This combination, he said, provides RCB with a long batting lineup and an additional bowling option through Shepherd.

However, Kumble stressed that the biggest concern for RCB heading into the new season remains the fitness of Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. If both pacers remain fully fit, he believes RCB will have a well-balanced squad capable of competing strongly throughout the tournament.

While Kumble expressed confidence in RCB's batting strength, he admitted that the team's bowling fitness will be an important factor to watch during IPL 2026.