News that fits you

Highlights

  • Virat Kohli ends 18-year wait with title
  • RCB lifts maiden IPL trophy in Ahmedabad
  • Emotional Kohli celebrates dream moment with teammates

Latest news

Six Years of Trust and Dedication: Verses Kindler Publication Redefines The Journey for Authors

Six Years of Trust and Dedication: Verses Kindler Publication Redefines The Journey for Authors

From Barriers to Architecture: How Security Design Is Reshaping India's Urban Homes

From Barriers to Architecture: How Security Design Is Reshaping India's Urban Homes

IIT Ropar and Dhash Defense Sign MoU to Build India's Next-Generation All Terrain Vehicles

IIT Ropar and Dhash Defense Sign MoU to Build India's Next-Generation All Terrain Vehicles

Movado Launches Heritage 1917 Collection as an Ode to 145 Years of Swiss Craftsmanship and Iconic Design

Movado Launches Heritage 1917 Collection as an Ode to 145 Years of Swiss Craftsmanship and Iconic Design

MoPNG holds workshop with Oil PSU heads to strengthen R&D capabilities in oil and gas sector

MoPNG holds workshop with Oil PSU heads to strengthen R&D capabilities in oil and gas sector

The Story of AI - GPT Satya: Everything You Need to Know About AI

The Story of AI - GPT Satya: Everything You Need to Know About AI

Tata Power, Bhutan's DGPC expand hydropower partnership to over 5,000 MW

Tata Power, Bhutan's DGPC expand hydropower partnership to over 5,000 MW

Airtel Africa FY26 profit surges to $813m, revenue rises 29.5% on strong data, mobile money growth

Airtel Africa FY26 profit surges to $813m, revenue rises 29.5% on strong data, mobile money growth

Virat Kohli lifts IPL title finally - No. 18 meets destiny on the 18th year

Virat Kohli and Royal Challengers Bengaluru finally lifted their maiden IPL trophy after an emotional win in the 2025 final, ending an 18-year wait filled with passion, setbacks, and unwavering loyalty.

Updated: Sep 02, 2022 10:53
|

PTI

Virat Kohli lifts IPL title finally - No. 18 meets destiny on the 18th year

11.20 pm. The chiselled, sweat-glistened face of Virat Kohli was filled with impatience. The maiden IPL title for him and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru was a good over away.

He was desperate for that famous Kohli run — fingers pointed heavenwards with a wide grin plastered across the face.

11.25 pm: Josh Hazlewood successfully defended 29 runs in the 20th over. But all Kohli could do was to hide his face in his palms with tear-filled eyes and baulk. Teammates soon enveloped him as their endearing No. 18 met his destiny after 18 years.

Was it the credit-rolling moment of an extraordinary relationship between a player and franchise that lasted 18 years through mind boggling highs and heartbreaking lows? It’s a weird thought at this moment of personal and collective glory. But it could not be avoided as the journey came to its much-desired full circle.

The first chapter of the Kohli and the RCB series began in 2008, and it has transformed into a long-drawn TV drama like the ‘Young and Restless".

Kohli was young and restless 18 years back — an irreverent, chubby South Delhi dandy who just wanted to take on the whole wide world in pursuit of victory.

An anomaly in the dressing room that then contained Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, Jacques Kallis etc..

But RCB trusted Kohli, and their former owner Vijay Mallya, a horse lover, let him be his own and allowed him time to mature into a thoroughbred.

Perhaps, he fitted seamlessly into the upmarket and bold image of the franchise. It was a soap opera.

But the relationship took a new turn in 2011. The Royal Challengers trusted a 22-year-old with the leadership role.

Many 22-year-olds could have wilted in the high-pressure environment, but not this 22-year-old.

An innate love for camera, headlines, and the will to fight and learn helped him embrace the job wholeheartedly.

Kohli was in the hot seat for 12 years and 143 matches, and he remained firm there too even when the team failed to bag a trophy.

Gradually, he established a close connection with Bengalureans. His charisma was a big factor in turning the city dwellers into RCB faithfuls.

It wasn’t an instant link like the one Chennai established with MS Dhoni, but it was more slow brewing like the maturing of a top of the line wine.

That was partially because Dhoni came to the Super Kings as India’s T20 World Cup 2007 winning captain, and he was already a national icon, a success symbol of youthfulness.

Kohli too had led India to the 2008 U19 World Cup by the time the inaugural season of the IPL began, but the Indian cricketing world was not yet ready to accept Kohli as a young prodigy.

It took them some time to see the genius of Kohli, but even then Kohli was famous but was not loved. However, he remained a persuasive conversational centrepiece.

Kohli was at the forefront of his club’s PR pushes, its face on the social media, he reiterated the inner synergy he feels to the red and gold jersey.

In fact, Kohli was a magnificent distraction for RCB fans from their lack of trophy triumph until now.

A driven individual, it does not need any second guessing to realise that Kohli felt the hurt seeing a bare cupboard even as two rival Southern clubs added trophies.

The Super Kings marched to a record five titles and Sunrisers Hyderabad and Deccan Chargers jointly bagged two.

Mumbai Indians under his revered comrade Rohit Sharma too clinched five titles.

But Kohli never showed the angst in public or never thought of severing his ties with RCB. In fact, he always underlined his closeness to the outfit.

“In terms of desires, everything is okay. But being with RCB is never going to go away. For me, what’s more valuable is the relationship and the mutual respect that has been created over so many years.

“The love that I have received from the fans, I don’t think any silverware or any trophy can come close to that,” Kohli had told RCB podcast last month.

But he would have dreamt of holding that trophy aloft one day, and it came on a sweat-drenched Ahmedabad night.

The finest showman of this decade of cricket, the lead guitarist of the IPL and T20s stood crowned. Nothing else mattered more on this emotional moment.

ADVERTISEMENT

Up Next

Virat Kohli lifts IPL title finally - No. 18 meets destiny on the 18th year

Virat Kohli lifts IPL title finally - No. 18 meets destiny on the 18th year

Iran 'negotiating' with FIFA over moving World Cup games to Mexico: embassy

Iran 'negotiating' with FIFA over moving World Cup games to Mexico: embassy

IPL first phase schedule announced amid travel concerns caused by war in West Asia

IPL first phase schedule announced amid travel concerns caused by war in West Asia

Rinku Singh’s father Khanchand Singh passes away after battling stage 4 liver cancer

Rinku Singh’s father Khanchand Singh passes away after battling stage 4 liver cancer

T20 World Cup: Abhishek, Hardik help India pulverise Zimbabwe by 72 runs; stay in semis race

T20 World Cup: Abhishek, Hardik help India pulverise Zimbabwe by 72 runs; stay in semis race

T20 World Cup: Clinical South Africa hammer West Indies by nine wickets, tighten grip on semifinal spot

T20 World Cup: Clinical South Africa hammer West Indies by nine wickets, tighten grip on semifinal spot

ADVERTISEMENT

editorji-whatsApp

More videos

New Zealand knock out Sri Lanka from T20 World Cup with dominant Super Eight win

New Zealand knock out Sri Lanka from T20 World Cup with dominant Super Eight win

T20 World Cup: India seek answers to top-order worries in must-win Super 8s game against Zimbabwe

T20 World Cup: India seek answers to top-order worries in must-win Super 8s game against Zimbabwe

Ranji Trophy Final: J&K consolidate to 527/6 as sparks fly post Dogra head-butt

Ranji Trophy Final: J&K consolidate to 527/6 as sparks fly post Dogra head-butt

Lucknow Super Giants unveil new logo ahead of IPL 2026 season

Lucknow Super Giants unveil new logo ahead of IPL 2026 season

It was a mistake: Bucknor regrets wrong decision against Tendulkar after 22 years

It was a mistake: Bucknor regrets wrong decision against Tendulkar after 22 years

Pakistan to tour Bangladesh next month for 3-match ODI series

Pakistan to tour Bangladesh next month for 3-match ODI series

Australia captain Marsh says team respects criticism back home for T20 World Cup debacle

Australia captain Marsh says team respects criticism back home for T20 World Cup debacle

Australia tour fiasco: Pakistan government revokes hockey captain Butt's 2-year ban

Australia tour fiasco: Pakistan government revokes hockey captain Butt's 2-year ban

Brevis, bowlers make short work of UAE as SA finish group stage with all-win record

Brevis, bowlers make short work of UAE as SA finish group stage with all-win record

J&K make history, enter Ranji Trophy final for first time in 67 years

J&K make history, enter Ranji Trophy final for first time in 67 years

Categories

Editorji Technologies Pvt. Ltd. © 2022 All Rights Reserved.