The IPL’s 18th edition finally went to the No. 18. A wait of 18 years has finally concluded. As anticipated, it was a night of atonement, solace, and joy for one team, while it was devastating, painfully so, for the other.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru finally seized the title that had escaped them for years, making them the target of endless jokes and memes. For Punjab Kings, it was a situation of “so near, yet so far.” A loss that will hurt for a while, having faltered in the finale after showcasing a style of cricket during the season that was lively, engaging, and meaningful.
Virat Kohli- The Champ
In the end, everyone’s attention was focused on one individual, the person sporting the number 18 on his jersey. Similar to his performance in last year’s T20 World Cup final, Virat Kohli’s 43 in this match at times appeared to belong to a different era, too cautious, and probably destined to leave his team with a suboptimal score.
However, hints were evident in his knock that this wasn’t the typical pitch Ahmedabad had presented regularly this season, where 196 had been the lowest first-innings score in eight matches. He particularly found it challenging to produce power with his pull shot, as the PBKS seamers delivered tennis-ball bounce when they bowled into the surface.
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A target of 191, nonetheless, appeared too modest for a PBKS lineup that had chased down 204 with an over remaining at the same venue two days earlier.
However, this pitch was unique, and it didn’t necessarily become easier throughout the second innings. Among them, two of PBKS’ top batting prospects surpassed Kohli’s challenges: while Kohli made 43 from 35 deliveries, Prabhsimran Singh and Nehal Wadhera combined for 41 off 40.
Virat Kohli in tears
In a touching moment, Virat Kohli appeared emotional after Royal Challengers Bengaluru triumphed over Punjab Kings by six runs in the Indian Premier League 2025 final. Kohli has exclusively represented RCB during his 18-year career in the league, the only player to achieve this.
When the last ball crossed the boundary, Kohli collapsed to the ground in tears while his teammates rushed to celebrate with him. It is yet another achievement in the remarkable career of the icon. His spouse and actress Anushka Sharma also found it hard to believe.
As the game approached, RCB captain Rajat Patidar emphasized that his team aimed to win the title for him, and they achieved it in a convincing manner.
Kohli was spotted celebrating Marcus Stoinis’ wicket alongside former RCB teammate AB de Villiers in the final of the 2025 Indian Premier League.
RCB’s Journey to the Title
RCB, which secured the second position in the points table following the group stage, reached their inaugural IPL final in nine years with a commanding eight-wicket victory over the leading Punjab Kings in Qualifier 1. Punjab, on the other hand, recovered in Qualifier 2, defeating Mumbai Indians decisively to arrange a critical rematch in the championship game.
It was appropriate that RCB’s bowlers—carefully assembled during the mega auction—stepped up when needed, particularly after the batting lineup arguably underperformed. For years, RCB received criticism for favoring star batsmen over skilled bowlers. However, 2025 presented an alternate narrative—the final showcased the bowlers’ united determination and performance.
After the monumental victory, Kohli announced that the celebrations would continue into Wednesday, with a unique victory parade scheduled in Bengaluru. Finally, the trophy is returning home.
They surely pulled off a monkey off the back..
