Virat Kohli Leads RCB to Dream IPL Triumph in Unforgettable Fashion
AHMEDABAD — Virat Kohli once again proved why he is considered one of the greatest chasers in cricket history, delivering an unbeaten 75 off 42 balls to steer Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a five‑wicket victory over Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League final on Sunday.
Chasing a modest target of 156, RCB stumbled mid‑innings but Kohli stood tall, hitting the winning runs with a six to seal back‑to‑back titles for the franchise.
Bowlers Set the Stage
Earlier, RCB’s bowlers produced a disciplined performance to restrict Gujarat to 155 for eight. Rasikh Salam, the right‑arm medium pacer from Kashmir, was the standout with figures of three for 27 in four overs. He was well supported by Bhuvneshwar Kumar (two for 29) and Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood (two for 37).
Gujarat’s batting never gained traction. Prolific openers Sai Sudharsan (12) and captain Shubman Gill (10) fell cheaply. Washington Sundar fought a lone battle with an unbeaten 50 off 37 balls, but the rest of the lineup failed to build partnerships. Gujarat managed just 45 runs in the powerplay, a total their batting coach Matthew Hayden later admitted was far below par.
Kohli’s Calm Amid Chaos
In reply, RCB got off to a flying start. Impact player Venkatesh Iyer smashed 32 off 16 balls, sharing a 62‑run opening stand with Kohli. But Gujarat’s bowlers struck back. Rashid Khan (two for 25), Arshad Khan (one for 32), and Kagiso Rabada (one for 44) triggered a collapse. From 62 for no loss, RCB slumped to 91 for four in the ninth over, still needing 65 runs from 67 balls.
That was when Kohli took full control. He mixed caution with aggression, finding gaps and rotating the strike. With the crowd of 90,000 at the Narendra Modi Stadium holding its breath, Kohli targeted the spinners and refused to take risks. He brought up his half‑century off 32 balls and finished the chase with a towering six off Arshad Khan.
“Stuff you dream of,” Kohli said after the match. “Thought of this moment many times, wanting to hit the winning run. Felt really relaxed coming in. The team we have gives confidence to see any kind of situation through. I knew exactly what to do in the chase.”
A Season to Remember
Kohli finished the IPL season as the fourth‑highest run‑scorer with 675 runs, behind teen sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (776), Gill (732), and Sudharsan (722). At 37, he showed no signs of slowing down, delivering when it mattered most.
For RCB, the victory marks their second consecutive title and cements their status as the dominant force in Indian cricket. In the powerplay, RCB scored 70 runs — a stark contrast to Gujarat’s 45 — which Kohli credited as the turning point.
“Told Venky we need to kill the game in the powerplay,” Kohli said. “There was total clarity. We had small targets and played free cricket.”
Gujarat Titans, champions in 2022, fell short on the biggest stage. Hayden lamented the batting failure: “We have apex predators but couldn’t get going in the powerplay.”
As the RCB players sprinted onto the field to celebrate with Kohli, the images of jubilation will linger long in the memory of fans who have waited years for this dynasty to begin.
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