Punjab Newsline,Sports:
Sub-heading: RCB star calls viral report ‘fake’, delivers strong message to teammates ahead of new season
India’s batting icon Virat Kohli has brushed aside viral reports claiming he demanded chartered flight access during the upcoming Indian Premier League 2026, calling them completely baseless and fake. The rumours, which quickly spread on social media, suggested that Kohli had asked the Royal Challengers Bengaluru management for special travel arrangements between India and London, along with the option to fly home during gaps between matches.
The report originated from an Instagram handle named ‘worldinlast24hrs’, which alleged that Kohli wanted to travel to the UK whenever there was a break of more than three days between fixtures. However, Kohli wasted no time in shutting down the claims. Taking to Instagram, the former RCB skipper shared a screenshot of the now-deleted post, reacting with laughing emojis to make his stance crystal clear.
Following Kohli’s response, the same social media account claimed that their page had “crashed” after his reaction, posting a screenshot of their analytics. Despite the buzz, Kohli’s reaction made it evident that there was no truth to the claims, putting an end to speculation.
Meanwhile, Kohli remains fully focused on preparations for IPL 2026. During RCB’s first training session, he addressed the squad—especially younger Indian players—with a powerful and motivating message. Emphasising the importance of discipline and intensity, Kohli reminded the team of the hard work put in over the past few seasons and warned that the competition will only get tougher this year.
“We worked really hard over the last two to three seasons to achieve what we did last year, and it’s only going to get tougher,” Kohli said, urging players to stay sharp from day one. He further stressed the importance of making the most of every training session, calling for 120 percent commitment throughout the tournament.
Head coach Andy Flower also welcomed new additions to the squad, setting the tone for a focused and determined campaign. With Kohli leading from the front, RCB appear geared up for a strong run in IPL 2026.