Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) ended an 18-year wait as the Rajat Patidar-led team beat the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the IPL 2025 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Tuesday. Virat Kohli, the only constant player who has played for the franchise over the last 18 years, finally won the league as well.

Rajeev Shukla, the man who is all set to become the next Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president, shut down critics as Virat finally won the title as well.

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“See, to me, it feels like – amongst those who’ve played the IPL over the last 18 years – Virat has been the constant. And he tried many times to make Bangalore champions, to make RCB champions, but it never happened. People often criticised him, said things like ‘he’s not a good captain,’ ‘he’s not right for an IPL team’ – this and that,” Shukla said in a chat with India Today.

“But whatever the case may be, it’s because of Virat that RCB has such a big fan base and popularity. People around the world follow this team because of him. No matter where a match is played, if Virat’s team is playing, it will be known by his name,” Rajeev Shukla concluded.