Ahmedabad, June 3: The long wait is finally over. After 18 seasons of heartbreak, near-misses and unending memes, Royal Challengers Bengaluru have etched their name on the IPL trophy at last. Under the glistening floodlights of the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, RCB edged past Punjab Kings by six runs in a nerve-jangling final to lift their maiden Indian Premier League title on Tuesday.
It wasn’t just a cricket match. It was a culmination of nearly two decades of hope, frustration, and unwavering loyalty — and no one embodied that journey more than Virat Kohli.
As the final ball of the match sailed harmlessly over the rope, confirming RCB’s slender victory, Kohli – the heartbeat of the franchise since its inception – dropped to the ground. Overcome with emotion, tears rolled down his face as his teammates swarmed him in celebration. In his 18th IPL season, and having never switched allegiances, the former India and RCB captain had finally climbed the summit he’d chased for so long.
A Historic Night in Ahmedabad
RCB’s innings never quite hit full throttle but was built on important cameos. Kohli top-scored with a composed 43 off 35 balls, anchoring the innings through a tough middle period. Rajat Patidar, now captain of the side, chipped in with a brisk 26 from 16 balls. Yet RCB lost wickets at regular intervals, with Punjab’s bowlers keeping them on a tight leash.Arshdeep Singh’s sensational final over – in which he picked up three wickets – ensured RCB were restricted to 190/9. Kyle Jamieson (3/48) and Yuzvendra Chahal (1/37) also played crucial roles in containing the Bengaluru batting line-up. Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai delivered the most prized scalp – Kohli – to momentarily dent RCB’s momentum.
Punjab Falter in the Chase
In reply, Punjab Kings – playing their first final since 2014 and only the second in their history – looked well within reach of the target for most parts of the chase. Shashank Singh was the lone warrior, remaining unbeaten on 61, while Josh Inglis contributed 39. But the middle order faltered under pressure.The turning point came in the 17th over. With Punjab needing 55 off 22, Marcus Stoinis walked in and dispatched the first ball for six. But Bhuvneshwar Kumar, ice-cool in crunch situations, induced an edge off the very next delivery to dismiss the Aussie and swing the game back in RCB’s favour.
Krunal Pandya emerged as the standout bowler for RCB, delivering a clutch spell of 2/17 in his four overs. His miserly bowling in the middle overs choked Punjab’s momentum when they looked set for a big finish.
A Long-Awaited Redemption
This wasn’t just another final. This was a tale of redemption, of banishing ghosts from the past. RCB had reached the final thrice before – in 2009, 2011 and 2016 – only to fall agonisingly short each time. With Kohli at the heart of most of those campaigns, the weight of unfinished business was heavy.“It’s not just a trophy, it’s a lifetime of emotions,” Kohli said after the match, his voice breaking. “This means everything. We’ve waited so long. I’ve waited so long.” (PTI)
