Virat Kohli said it was “as much for the fans” after he finally won the Indian Premier League (IPL) at his 18th attempt, with Bengaluru’s ecstatic supporters preparing to welcome home their hero at a victory parade.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Tuesday beat Punjab Kings by six runs in a roller-coaster IPL final in Ahmedabad front of more than 91,000 fans, who erupted in joy when Kohli lifted the trophy at the world’s biggest cricket stadium.
The 36-year-old Kohli, the only man to have played all 18 years for the same IPL team since its inaugural season in 2008, fittingly top-scored with 43 to anchor Bengaluru to victory.
Photo: AFP
Kohli, who captained Bengaluru in 143 matches from 2011 to 2023, had been on the losing side in three previous IPL finals. Yesterday, he was to celebrate with his teammates on an open-top bus tour in the southern city of Bengaluru.
“I said it straight away — this title is as much for the fans as it is for us,” Kohli said. “These people have backed us relentlessly for 18 years.”
“We’ve had horrible seasons and great ones too, but they turned up for every game in Bengaluru,” he said. “I’ve never seen loyalty like that. That’s what made me stay.”
Photo: AP
India cricket great Sachin Tendulkar led the tributes for Kohli and Bengaluru.
“Congratulations to (@RCBTweets) on their first-ever IPL title. Fitting that jersey no. 18 lifts the trophy in the 18th edition,” Tendulkar posted on X, referring to Kohli’s jersey number.
“Virat in his 18th year of competing in the IPL, I think that makes it really special for everyone involved,” Bengaluru coach Andy Flower said. “I am really happy for him and really proud of the way that he’s driven the side forward.”
The tech city of Bengaluru erupted in midnight celebrations after RCB, who scored 190-9, restricted Punjab to 184-7.
Fans danced in the streets and fireworks lit up the sky.
“It’s not an easy tournament to win,” Punjab coach Ricky Ponting said. “You have to think long and hard about that, think how many good teams they have had over the years.”
“You can see what it meant to [Kohli], his wife and all the RCB fans to finally get the monkey off the back and win an IPL title,” he said.
“The IPL 2025 will be forever etched in the annals of cricket — not just for Virat Kohli, but for the RCB fans who stood by them through thick and thin,” former Australia batsman Matthew Hayden said on broadcaster JioHotstar.
“It shows how consistency and belief can finally lead to a title. Over the past five years they’ve always been close, and now they’ve crossed the line,” Hayden said.
While British star Jack Draper spent the past week trying to find rhythm and comfort in his first grass tournament of the season at the Queen’s Club Championships in London, Jiri Lehecka on Saturday bulldozed everything in his path. After more than two furious hours of battle, their form was reflected in the final scoreline as Lehecka toppled a frustrated Draper, the second seed, 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 to reach the biggest final of his career, against Carlos Alcaraz. Lehecka is also the first Czech to reach the men’s title match at Queen’s since Ivan Lendl lifted the trophy in 1990. Draper, who
Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka staged a “crazy comeback,” saving four match points before beating Elena Rybakina 7-6 (6), 3-6, 7-6 (6) in the quarter-finals of the Berlin Open on Friday. Sabalenka was 6-2 down in the final-set tie-breaker, but won six straight points to reach her eighth semi-final of the season. “Elena is a great player and we’ve had a lot of tough battles,” Sabalenka said. “I have no idea how I was able to win those last points. I think I just got lucky.” “I remember a long time ago when I was just starting, I won a lot of matches being down
The Canterbury Crusaders edged the Waikato Chiefs 16-12 in an intense Super Rugby Pacific final battle in Christchurch yesterday to claim their 15th title in 30 years of the Southern Hemisphere competition. Hooker Codie Taylor scored a try and Rivez Reihana contributed 11 points from the kicking tee as the most dominant team in Super Rugby history extended their perfect home playoff record to 32 successive matches since 1998. The Chiefs, who were looking for a first title since 2013, scored first-half tries through George Dyer and Shaun Stevenson, but were unable to register a point after the break and fell to
REUNION: Former Barcelona players Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Miami coach Javier Mascherano are to face their former coach Luis Enrique Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi faces a tantalizing reunion with former club Paris Saint-Germain in the FIFA Club World Cup last 16 after both sides on Monday progressed to the knockout phase. Miami drew 2-2 with Palmeiras to go through second in Group A, after the Brazilian side fought back from two goals down to seal top spot. They now face an all-Brazil clash against Botafogo, who lost 1-0 to Atletico Madrid, but progressed from Group B in second at the expense of the Spaniards. Champions of Europe PSG won the group with a 2-0 victory over Seattle Sounders, paving the