Virat Kohli recently lauded the transformative impact of the Women's Premier League (WPL), the women's equivalent of the IPL, stating that the league has completely fast-tracked player development. Speaking on the RCB Podcast, the Indian cricket icon highlighted that domestic talent now emerges onto the international stage as "ready products" due to the high-pressure environment of franchise cricket."I saw WPL in the past as well. But this time around, you look at the turnout of fans. There's a cricketer in me that can say, I can see the difference. But when the public starts seeing the difference, that's when you know the game has changed to a different degree," Kohli said.

Kohli pointed out that as a professional cricketer, he can easily spot technical upgrades, but the real benchmark of success is the general public. Fans are no longer filling stadiums out of mere curiosity. They are packing venues because they genuinely connect with the high standard and excitement of the games. Kohli pointed to completely packed, roaring stadiums across cities like Baroda, Navi Mumbai, and Bengaluru as definitive proof that women's cricket has crossed into a new era of mainstream entertainment. "When they played in Baroda, stadiums were packed. You look at Navi Mumbai, I mean, packed. I was like, man, this is amazing. When they played in Bangalore, phenomenal turnout.”

Virat Kohli praises fellow Number 18, Smriti Mandhana’s captaincy in WPL

Virat Kohli showered high praise on fellow Number 18 and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain Smriti Mandhana, celebrating her leadership and legendary batting performance during the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026. Following Mandhana leading RCB Women to their second WPL title, Kohli took to social media and shared insights on the RCB Podcast to laud her resilience, mental strength, and natural talent. Kohli singled out Mandhana’s title-winning, explosive knock of 87 off 41 balls in the WPL 2026 final as one of the most special performances he has ever witnessed. Kohli praised her unique skill, noting: "She is a very gifted, natural timer of the ball. When you watch her bat, you don’t feel like she’s putting in force... she just plays beautiful cricket shots.”

He emphasized that while he knew she possessed world-class talent, executing it flawlessly in a high-stakes, maximum-pressure final was the mark of a true champion. Kohli pointed out that finishing at the top of the table and booking a direct ticket to the final was absolute proof of Mandhana’s masterful management of her squad. He lauded how calmly she manipulated bowling changes and field sets during high-pressure situations throughout the season. Kohli specifically credited her capability to keep the squad unified and motivated after minor league-stage losses, turning those failures into crucial learning points.