Kohli top-scored with 70 as RCB posted 205-5 in their 20 overs after losing the toss and being put in to bat, their first total of than 200 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in the current campaign.
Josh Hazlewood then took 4-33 as the Royals were restricted to 194-9 as RCB moved up to third in the IPL table.
Kohli told the host broadcaster after the win: "We've had three pretty average games at home and we discussed a few things in the batting unit that we need to get right and I think we applied ourselves well enough today to get that total on the board.
"We felt like the pitch wasn't as flat as the score displayed on the scoreboard. I think the template is simple, you know, one of the guys to kind of bat through and the others to kind of attack around him.
"So I have that responsibility. I know this pitch very well, so does Devdutt. So yeah, that was basically the plan. Let Salty do his thing and then once we have a couple of wickets down, then really capitalise and rebuild and yeah, today it paid off."
Kohli also highlighted the importance of the toss in Bengaluru, citing dew as an important factor helping chasing teams.
He added: "I think the first challenge is to win the toss, to be honest, because the first half and second half … the second half you kind of have a look at the pitch.
"Also, the dew comes in, so it becomes a bit of an advantage. So we've been fighting hard to kind of get the total on the board in the first innings. We've fallen short by 25-30.
"Today, we were able to get past 200, so that always kept us in the game."
India will be hoping the added experience Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma can give them a boost ahead of the three-match ODI series against the Proteas that starts in Ranchi on Sunday.
Former Proteas captain Faf du Plessis has confirmed that he will not put his name in the auction for the 2026 Indian Premier League, and has instead decided to play in the Pakistan Super League.
South Africa's tail wagged to keep them in the game all the way to the end but they ultimately fell 17 runs short of India's mammoth total in the first of three ODIs between the two sides.
Virat Kohli says he was never big believer in a lot of preparation, but would rather opt to make sure he is physically in the best shape, after scoring a century in the first ODI against the Proteas.
