RCB finally grab IPL title; Virat Kohli’s tears mark 18-year end for glory

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) finally shattered their title drought, lifting the IPL trophy for the first time in 18 seasons, ending years of heartbreak and near misses. Emotions ran high as Virat Kohli, the face of RCB’s resilience and loyalty, sank to the ground in tears, overcome with pride after years of unwavering dedication to the franchise.

Punjab Kings bowlers did more than a decent job to restrict Royal Challengers Bengaluru to 190 for nine.

However, their batters could not deliver under pressure as the Shreyas Iyer-led side could only manage 184/7 in 20 overs.

Kohli didn't lose the perspective that the format played in whites played with a red ball still ranks five notches above the T20 version of the game.

The final turned out to be a battle of nerves and RCB certainly channelled their years of disappointment and pain to come back roaring in the contest and seal a commanding victory.

Having announced his retirement from Test cricket last month, Kohli was ecstatic but said nothing is more satisfying than excelling in the traditional format.

"You know, this moment is right up there with the best moments I've had in my career. "But it still marks five levels under Test cricket. That's how much I value Test cricket. And that's how much I love Test cricket," Kohli told the broadcaster moments after the six-run win over Punjab Kings in the IPL final. 

For him, the youngsters need to respect Test cricket.

A partisan crowd did not give up on RCB even as they struggled to find the flourish with the bat and ended up posting a total of 190/9 with superstar Kohli making a laborious 35-ball 43. 

At the break, RCB’s total did not look enough but a persistent effort from their bowlers made the scoreboard pressure ultimately work in their favour. 

With 29 needed off the final over, RCB's win was sealed when Josh Hazlewood bowled the second dot ball on the trot. Shashank Singh struck a valiant 61 not out off 30 balls (3x4s, 6x6s), but his effort came far too late as Punjab Kings ended at 184 for seven. 

Josh Hazlewood provided the first breakthrough, Krunal Pandya bowled a dream spell of 4-0-17-2 in a summit clash but it was Romario Shepherd’s dismissal of PBKS’ gun captain Shreyas Iyer that finally indicated which way the game was headed. 

All it took was an innocuous delivery outside off to see the back of the most dangerous batter in the final as Iyer, coming off a terrific knock in Qualifier 2, edged it behind off Shepherd and walked back with his head dropped. 

Josh Inglis (39 off 23 balls, 1x4s, 4x6s) made every opportunity count when it came to hitting towards midwicket but Pandya had him caught at long-on in the 13th over. 

Thereafter, every dot ball drew appreciation from fans and they were at their loudest when RCB legend AB de Villiers appeared on the big screen on the ground, and also when PBKS were mathematically knocked out. 

Desperate to strike early, RCB needed something special and Phil Salt produced a brilliant effort in the deep when Priyansh Arya (24) lifted the ball off Hazlewood in the fifth over. 

Salt made a dash from deep square leg to his right and took the catch reverse cupped and threw the ball up in the air as he hurtled past the ropes. 

He recovered quickly to get inside the field and take a stunning catch. Punjab’s impact sub Prabhsimran Singh (26 off 22 balls) succumbed to pressure even as his side made 52/1 in the powerplay. 

Bhuvneshwar shut the doors on Punjab when he dismissed Nehal Wadhera (15) and Marcus Stoinis (6) in a span of three deliveries in the 17th over and thereon, RCB’s triumph was only a formality.