Former Pakistan cricketers Basit Ali and Kamran Akmal have credited Indian batting icon Virat Kohli as the driving force behind the transformation of defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru into a well-rounded team in the ongoing Indian Premier League 2026 season.
RCB have made a strong start to their title defence, remaining unbeaten with two wins from two matches so far.
Speaking on the YouTube show The Game Plan, Basit highlighted how RCB are no longer overly dependent on their batting lineup, noting that their bowling attack has significantly improved compared to previous seasons.
“RCB have become a proper team now. Initially, about 4–5 years ago, I felt that they had a weak bowling attack. Now, with their batting lineup, they have players like Jacob Duffy and Krunal Pandya, who have had a significant impact,” Basit said.
He went on to describe Kohli as the “mastermind on the ground,” suggesting that even though Rajat Patidar is the official captain, Kohli’s influence on the field remains crucial.
Praise For Tim David’s Power-Hitting
Basit also singled out Tim David for his explosive batting, comparing his style to “book cricket,” where every page turns into a boundary.
“The captain’s name may be Rajat Patidar, but Tim David—it is like book cricket, where you open the book, and it is either a four or a six. The manner in which he hits is amazing,” he added.
His remarks highlight the growing importance of power-hitters in modern T20 cricket and RCB’s depth in batting strength.
Kamran Akmal Credits Coaching Staff For Planning
Meanwhile, Kamran Akmal praised the behind-the-scenes work done by RCB’s coaching leadership, including head coach Andy Flower and mentor Dinesh Karthik.
According to Akmal, the team’s success stems from early and detailed planning.
“Credit goes to Andy Flower and Dinesh Karthik. I was watching some of their videos, and their planning seems to have started one to two months earlier—deciding what type of team was needed,” he said.
He also expressed surprise that Mumbai Indians released Tim David, suggesting that RCB should retain him for the long term.
RCB Now Looks Like A Complete Team
Akmal further noted that RCB’s transformation into a complete team lies in their balanced squad composition.
He pointed out that players such as Phil Salt, Tim David, and Jitesh Sharma strengthen the batting lineup to the extent that not all players even get a chance to bat in every game.
“In the first 16 years, they compromised on their bowling. Now they have ended that compromise. It has become a different team altogether,” he said.
Kohli’s Aggressive Approach Impresses Critics
Akmal also praised Kohli’s aggressive batting mindset this season, stating that the veteran batter continues to evolve with the demands of modern cricket.
“I think other teams will find it hard to beat them. Have you seen Virat Kohli’s batting approach? He has become even more aggressive this season,” Akmal said.
He added that Kohli’s hunger and dedication remain unmatched, noting that the star batter consistently prepares with a clear understanding of what the team requires.