Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) ended their 18-year wait for an Indian Premier League title with a thrilling six-run victory over Punjab Kings in a pulsating final at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium on Tuesday night, thanks to a match-winning spell from Krunal Pandya and tight bowling from Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood and Yash Dayal.
Chasing 191, Punjab Kings managed to keep themselves in contention through a late surge from Shashank Singh, who remained unbeaten on 61 off 30 balls, but ultimately fell short at 184 for seven.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Rajat Patidar lifted the trophy amid scenes of jubilation, ending a nearly two-decade-long wait for both the franchise and their talisman, Virat Kohli.
“It has been 18 long years. I have given this team my youth, prime and experience. I have tried to win it every season, gave it everything I have,” Kohli said shortly after the final, his voice thick with emotion.
“To finally have it is an unbelievable feeling. Never thought this day would come, I was overcome with emotion after the last ball was bowled.
I gave each and every ounce of my energy, and it is an amazing feeling.”
Kohli’s innings of 43 runs off 35 balls laid a solid foundation for Bengaluru’s total of 190 for nine, but it was Rajat Patidar (26 off 16) and Jitesh Sharma (24 off 10) who provided the late momentum.
After being put in to bat, RCB got off to a flying start as Phil Salt punished a short ball from Arshdeep Singh for a maximum over the long-leg boundary and followed it up with a boundary off the final delivery of the first over. Kohli and Patidar then navigated the powerplay, reaching 55 for one in the first six overs, only for Mayank Agarwal to break the partnership by trapping Patidar lbw in the 11th over.
Virat Kohli and Liam Livingstone attempted to rebuild before Kohli’s top edge offered a relatively straightforward catch to Azmatullah Omarzai, leaving Bengaluru at 101 for three in the 15th over.
It was then that Jitesh Sharma unleashed a 10-ball blitz, smashing back-to-back sixes off Kyle Jamieson to inject fresh momentum. Jamieson fought back by dismissing Livingstone (25 off 15) in the same over, but RCB managed to post 190 for nine, with Hazlewood (3/48) and Arshdeep (3/40) doing the bulk of the damage.
In pursuit of 191, Punjab Kings began positively, the opening pair of Priyansh Arya (24 off 19) and Prabh Simran Singh (26 off 22) dispatching Bhuvneshwar Kumar for a boundary and a six in the opening over. However, a stunning catch from Phil Salt at the ropes sent Priyansh back to the pavilion for 24, and Punjab slipped to 43 for one after five overs. Krunal Pandya, who had conceded just three runs in his first over, continued to build pressure. In the eighth over, Prabh Simran, looking to take on Krunal, holed out to Bhuvneshwar at cover to leave Punjab 72 for two.
Shreyas Iyer’s stay at the crease was brief; Romario Shepherd trapped him lbw for one in the 10th over, making it 79 for three at halfway. Josh Inglis (39 off 23) and Nehal Wadhera (15 off 16) offered resistance, but Krunal’s consistent lines forced Inglis to top-edge on the first ball of the 13th over, conceding 39.
Punjab’s chase faltered further as Romario Shepherd conceded 10 in his 12th over but then dismissed Wadhera (15) caught by Krunal at point. That wicket, combined with Bhuvneshwar’s wicket of Marcus Stoinis, left Punjab reeling at 142 for six in 16.4 overs, needing 48 off 20 balls.
Azmatullah Omarzai’s dismissal to Yash Dayal for one quickly reduced Punjab to 145 for seven in 17.2 overs. The equation was 42 off 18 balls, and while Shashank Singh launched two sixes off Hazlewood’s 18th over—bringing the equation down to 29 off six—RCB’s bowlers held their nerve.
Bhuvneshwar conceded a six off the first ball of the penultimate over but conceded only one more boundary, leaving 29 needed off the final over. Hazlewood kept his composure, and despite Shashank smashing three sixes and a four, Punjab finished at 184 for seven, six runs short.
Krunal Pandya finished with figures of two for 17, Bhuvneshwar Kumar claimed two for 38, and Yash Dayal impressed with one for 18 in his three overs. Hazlewood completed his spell with one for 54, and Romario Shepherd picked up another wicket, each contribution ensuring that RCB’s bowlers shared the workload effectively in the high-pressure encounter.
Punjab captain Shreyas Iyer, visibly dejected, credited Krunal Pandya for turning the tide. “Considering the last game, I personally felt that 200 was a par score. They bowled brilliantly, especially Krunal.”
“He carries a lot of experience. I believe that was the turning point. I am very proud of each and every individual who has participated in this team,”
Iyer said.
He also praised his young players: “There are a lot of youngsters who are playing their first season, and they’ve shown a lot of fearlessness. We wouldn’t be here without them. Kudos to them.
“I’m sure when they come next year, they will carry immense experience with them. We can build some tactics and strategies around that so that we can play some decent cricket.”
Shreyas vowed to return stronger: “We have to be here and win the trophy next year. The way we turned up to each game with the belief that we can win this game, hopefully, we can be here next season and play some good cricket.”
For Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the triumph marks a long-awaited landmark. Virat Kohli, who had come close on several occasions, finally tasted IPL glory. “What AB has done for the franchise is tremendous. I told him, ‘This win is as much yours as it is ours. I want you to celebrate with us.’ He has been the player of the match so many times for this franchise despite being retired for four years. It tells you the impact he has had on the league, the team and me. He deserves to be on the podium, lifting the cup,” Kohli added, referring to his compatriot and former teammate AB de Villiers, who was present at the final.
Kohli reflected on his loyalty to the franchise: “I have stayed loyal to this team, no matter what. I have had moments where I thought otherwise, but I stuck by them. I stood behind them, they stood behind me. And I always dreamt of winning it with them. And this is far more special than winning it with anyone else because my heart is with Bangalore, my soul is with Bangalore.”
“And as I said, this is the team I am going to play for till the last day that I play the IPL. So this one is right up there because, as a sportsman, when you grind for something in such a high-intensity tournament, you want to win the big moments, and this one was missing. And tonight,
I am going to sleep like a baby.”
Defying years of heartbreak and close calls, RCB finally secured their maiden IPL crown, etching their name into history and providing a fitting reward for Kohli’s unwavering dedication to the franchise.
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