Following the conclusion of IPL 2026, Ravichandran Ashwin shared his best playing XI on his YouTube channel, making headlines by placing Virat Kohli in the No. 3 position instead of the opener's slot. Kohli, who played a pivotal role in Royal Challengers Bengaluru's victory over Gujarat Titans in the final, scored a total of 675 runs at an impressive average of 56.25. Ashwin's top picks for the opener position were Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who clinched the Orange Cap, and Shubman Gill. Other notable selections included Heinrich Klaasen at No. 4 and RCB captain Rajat Patidar at No. 5, with Patidar achieving a remarkable strike rate of 192.69. In the bowling department, Ashwin highlighted Bhuvneshwar Kumar for his outstanding 28 wickets alongside overseas stars Jamie Overton, Sunil Narine, and Kagiso Rabada. Ashwin also recognized the contributions of RCB's support staff and players, suggesting that the team could pursue a potential three-peat in future tournaments.