NEW DELHI: Virat Kohli delivered when it mattered most again, remaining unbeaten on 75 as Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Gujarat Titans by five wickets in the IPL final in Ahmedabad. With 156 runs required for victory, Kohli steered the chase with calm authority and helped the franchise finish the job without losing control. The innings also capped a standout campaign for the former India captain, who ended the season with 675 runs in total.
After the final, head coach Andy Flower shared a tribute video for Kohli, highlighting the batter’s influence beyond the scoreboard. Flower said, “Virat, I know you get a lot of attention and quite rightly. But I don’t want to downplay that, because you are a heartbeat in this dressing room.” The message underlined what RCB got from Kohli throughout the tournament—leadership, composure, and the ability to turn pressure into momentum.
RCB’s run chase began in strong fashion, with Kohli combining with Venkatesh Iyer for a 62-run opening partnership that set the tone. From there, Kohli tightened the tempo and took charge of the middle overs. He targeted fast bowler Kagiso Rabada early in the chase, striking two fours and a six to force Gujarat to rethink their plans and concede valuable rhythm to the Bengaluru batters.
Sunil Gavaskar also praised Kohli’s performances in high-stakes matches, pointing to the batter’s comfort with big moments. He said, “He relishes these situations, he looks forward to these situations where he can show how good a player he is. What kind of a temperament he has, the winning mindset that he has.” For RCB, that temperament proved decisive in a final where the margin could have swung quickly either way.
The triumph added another layer to RCB’s season, building on the momentum they carried from their maiden IPL title the previous year. They finished top of the league standings and then progressed to the final with ease, setting up a title showdown where Kohli’s form and presence ultimately made the difference. The stands reflected the batter’s huge fanbase as well, with many supporters donning his iconic No. 18 jersey during the match.
Moments after being named Player of the Match, Kohli spoke about the crowd support RCB receives far from Bengaluru. He said, “I always say we don’t have seven home games, we probably have 14.” Kohli added, “I mean, GT are probably the home side, but you see 90 percent of the guys are RCB fans. Their support is priceless.”
Even after sealing the championship, RCB opted against hosting a public homecoming celebration. The decision came with sensitivity to last year’s tragedy, when a crowd crush outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium claimed 11 lives. Remembering those fans, captain Rajat Patidar said, “Obviously, you feel bad — you lost your fans after winning the game. Not just fans, they are the family members. I always want to dedicate this trophy to them. I don’t have words to express that feeling.”
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