Virat Kohli picks RCB’s all-time XI, includes Chris Gayle:KL Rahul, Anil Kumble and Rajat Patidar make the cut

Ahead of the IPL 2026, Virat Kohli shared his all-time playing XI for the defending Champion Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Last season, Kohli helped his heart out to clinch the maiden IPL title for RCB and this year he will aim to contribute and defend their title successfully. The defending Champions will start their 2026 campaign on home soil at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the season opener on April 28. RCB has shared a video on their ‘X’ handle, where Virat Kohli shared his all-time RCB XI. Kohli to open with Gayle, ABD at No. 3 In a video shared by RCB, Virat Kohli revealed his preferred batting line-up for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. He chose Chris Gayle as his opening partner and placed former South African legend AB de Villiers at the No. 3 position. He said, “I would say Gayle and myself to open AB at three. Okay, let me get the four overseas out of the way. AB, Chris, and Mitchell Starc, because he played for us. The 4th overseas player for me would be, I think, Dale (Steyn), because I would like the bowling to be even stronger in that XI. So yeah, you got two seamers; you got Chris, myself and AB.” Also read: ‘Dhoni was hitting sixes like he was 23’: GT’s Kumar Kushagra in awe of CSK great’s ‘mindset’; speaks on his IPL 2026 prep Kohli, Gayle and de Villiers formed one of the most iconic batting trios for RCB during the 2010s, winning several matches for the franchise. However, despite their success and popularity, the trio was never able to win an IPL title together. KL Rahul, Rajat Patidar in the middle-order, DK as finisher Along with the two legendary overseas batters, Virat Kohli selected KL Rahul as the No. 4 batter in his all-time XI for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Rahul, who will represent Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League 2026, made his IPL debut with Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2013 and also played for them during the 2016 season. Kohli also picked Rajat Patidar and Dinesh Karthik for the No. 5 and No. 6 positions respectively. Patidar has been part of RCB since the 2021 season and was named captain ahead of IPL 2025. In his first season as skipper, the Madhya Pradesh batter guided the franchise to its long-awaited maiden IPL title, ending an 18-year wait for the trophy. He added further, “At four, I would have KL (Rahul). He had an amazing season, I think, batting at four for us. Five, I would say, give five to Rajat (Patidar), maybe, because he plays spin amazingly well and he’s one of the best Indian talents that we’ve had. Six would be Dinesh (Karthik), for sure, and Yuzi (Yuzvendra Chahal) at 11 for his batting ability.” Harshal Patel as an all-rounder, Kumble-Steyn with the ball Speaking about the all-rounder, he backs Harshal Patel as he can also bat a bit lower down the order. He picks Anil Kumble as the leading spinner with Yuzvendra Chahal on the other end. While Kohli picks Mitchell Starc and Dale Steyn as his two gun pacers for the side. Their lethal pace attack could have rattled several batting lineups. Also read: Is Lalit Modi set to return to IPL?: Ex-Indian Premier League commissioner in race to buy Rajasthan Royals “Now I’ve got seven and eight left, right? Anil Bhai (Kumble) at eight – wow, that would be an unbelievable 11. Okay, I’ll go with Harshal (Patel), with his little bit of batting ability as well. And he fits in as the perfect third seamer; he’s been bowling in different phases,” Virat Kohli concluded.