After an 18-year wait, Royal Challengers Bangalore finally lifted the Indian Premier League trophy, recording a six-run win over Punjab Kings. It was a journey of perseverance bearing the weight of many near misses. On Monday night, the Narendra Modi Stadium transformed into a grand theatre of Bangalore’s triumph and Punjab’s heartbreak. The victory ended the long wait for Virat Kohli, who has played all these 18 years for this one title. He top-scored with 43 runs in his team’s challenging total of 190 for 9, igniting hope in the hearts of his teammates and urging them to go for the kill.
The man who stepped up to ensure Bangalore’s triumph was left-arm spinner Krunal Pandya. His performance unfolded like the script of a Bollywood movie. He avenged his younger brother and Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya’s defeat to Punjab in Qualifier 2 with a miserly spell of 2 for 17 from four overs, earning the Player of the Match award.
Though Kohli has failed to win the title as captain many times, he was determined not to let his new skipper, Rajat Patidar, suffer the same fate. Patidar marshalled his resources expertly and restricted Punjab to 184 for 7. Shashank Singh made all Punjabis proud by pulling his team close to the target with a brave, unbeaten 61 off just 30 balls, including six sixes and three boundaries.
Punjab Kings won the toss and elected to field, aware that six out of eight games at this venue during the season had been won by teams batting first. Runs did not flow freely for Bangalore as they wished and wanted. When they failed to reach the 200-run mark, many felt they were at least 20 runs short. Every time a partnership seemed promising, it broke down. In the end, useful cameos from Mayank Agarwal (24), Patidar (26), Liam Livingstone (25), and Jitesh Sharma (24 off just 10 balls) proved vital. Punjab pacer Arshdeep Singh ended his wicket drought with figures of 3 for 40, while New Zealand pacer Kyle Jamieson also claimed three wickets, conceding 48 runs.
Chasing a target that required a run rate of under 10 — usually manageable in a final — proved difficult as Bangalore’s bowlers struck at crucial moments. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who hasn’t played international cricket since 2022, delivered two timely blows. However, it was Romario Shepherd who landed the vital strike, forcing Punjab skipper and key hope Shreyas Iyer to edge to the wicketkeeper for just one run. This ensured that Bangalore, who had faltered in the final hurdle thrice before (in 2009, 2011, and 2016), did not stumble again.
Virat Kohli in tears
It was no surprise that when the final ball was bowled, Kohli dropped to his knees, his face soaked in tears. He later remarked, “This win is as much for the fans as it is for the team. It’s been 18 long years. I’ve given my youth, my prime — I gave it everything I have. I never thought this day would come.”
Bangalore’s win is a testament to cricket rewarding those who continue to toil despite setbacks. Punjab needed just one final push and hoped it would be their night. Their squad, made up of many uncapped players, played with youthful audacity. After restricting Bangalore to 190 for 9, their dugout brimmed with hope. But in the end, the fireworks erupted for Bangalore’s triumph — not theirs. Punjab’s performance under Shreyas Iyer was bold and inspiring, but they fell just short at the final hurdle.
This wasn’t a final where Punjab played badly — Bangalore were simply better, ensuring that their challenge lived up to the “Royal” in their name. When Kohli lifted the trophy and kissed it, his teammates erupted in joyous celebration. The history of sport is filled with stories where the longest waits bring the sweetest rewards. This final was an emotional epic — a fairy tale ending to the Indian Premier League.
