In a night charged with emotion and history, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) finally lifted their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) trophy, defeating Punjab Kings by six runs in a thrilling 2025 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. For Virat Kohli, it was more than just a victory—it was the culmination of 18 years of unwavering loyalty and belief.
As the final ball was bowled and RCB sealed the win, Kohli was seen wiping away tears, overwhelmed by the moment that had eluded him for nearly two decades. “I’ve given this team my youth, my prime, and now my experience,” he told the broadcasters. “Every season, I’ve come out and given it everything I have to try and win this. To finally have this moment arrive, it’s an unbelievable feeling.”
RCB’s innings was powered by crucial knocks from Kohli (43), Rajat Patidar (26), and Jitesh Sharma (24 off 10), taking them to a competitive 190/9. Punjab Kings responded with a spirited chase, led by Shashank Singh’s explosive 61, but Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s timely breakthroughs helped RCB restrict them to 184/7.
The emotional peak of the night came not from the scoreboard, but from Kohli’s tears. Industrialist Anand Mahindra captured the sentiment of millions in a post on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “For 18 years, Virat Kohli gave his heart to a team that had never touched the trophy… Loyalty like this doesn’t just win titles – it carves legacies.” He accompanied it with a quote by Rabindranath Tagore: “Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark.”
“Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark.” – Tagore
— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) June 3, 2025
For 18 years, Virat Kohli gave his heart to a team that had never touched the trophy.
Waiting for the light of that dawn.
And now, at last, the stars have answered his faith.
Loyalty… pic.twitter.com/80B4U1BDLs
After years of near misses, heartbreaks, and undying support from the Red Army, RCB’s moment has finally come. And at the heart of it all stood Kohli—tears in his eyes, a trophy in his hands, and a legacy finally fulfilled.
