In a historic moment for Indian cricket, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) clinched their first-ever Indian Premier League (IPL) title, defeating Punjab Kings by six runs in a thrilling final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
In a historic moment for Indian cricket, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) clinched their first-ever Indian Premier League (IPL) title, defeating Punjab Kings by six runs in a thrilling final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. This victory marked the end of an 18-year wait for the franchise and a personal milestone for Virat Kohli, who has been the face of RCB since the league's inception in 2008.
Batting first, RCB posted a total of 190/9, with Kohli contributing a steady 43 runs off 35 balls. Despite the total being considered slightly below par, RCB's disciplined bowling turned the match in their favor. Krunal Pandya's exceptional performance, taking two wickets for 17 runs, earned him the Player of the Match award. Punjab Kings, despite a valiant 61* from Shashank Singh, fell short, finishing at 184/7
The victory was particularly emotional for Kohli, who had previously experienced three IPL final defeats in 2009, 2011, and 2016. Overcome with emotion, he celebrated the triumph with teammates and his wife, Anushka Sharma. Kohli expressed his feelings, stating, "This win is as much for the fans as it is for the team. It’s been 18 long years. I’ve given this team my youth, my prime, my experience. Every single season, I’ve walked out with a heart full of hope and a mind obsessed with victory. To finally have this moment… it’s beyond belief."
In a touching gesture, Kohli invited former teammates AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle to join him on the podium, lifting the trophy together, symbolizing the collective effort and camaraderie that defined RCB's journey.
The city of Bengaluru erupted in celebrations, with fans flooding the streets and fireworks lighting up the sky. RCB announced a grand victory parade to honor their loyal supporters, dubbed the "12th Man Army," scheduled to commence from Vidhana Soudha and conclude at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar congratulated RCB, highlighting the symbolic importance of Kohli—wearing jersey No. 18—lifting the trophy after nearly two decades of effort and dedication. Actor Vijay Deverakonda also joined in the celebrations, calling it a "Happy happy moment" for fans.
This historic win not only ended RCB's 18-year title drought but also solidified Kohli's legacy as one of cricket's greatest, adding the elusive IPL title to his illustrious career.
