After 18 long years of chasing the dream, Virat Kohli finally got his hands on the Indian Premier League trophy as Royal Challengers Bengaluru clinched their maiden IPL title on June 3, 2025, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Kohli, who has been the face of RCB since the league’s inception in 2008, led with heart, emotion, and unmatched consistency throughout the season.
In the grand finale, he top-scored with a composed 43 off 35 deliveries and finished the tournament with 657 runs in 15 matches — the highest for his team and third overall. As the final delivery was bowled and RCB sealed a thrilling six-run win over Punjab Kings, Kohli was visibly overwhelmed.
Tears flowed freely as years of near-misses, heartbreaks, and relentless commitment came full circle. The cricketing world stood up to applaud the 36-year-old, who had given everything to the franchise.
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Among the many heartfelt tributes, none stood out more than one from Kohli’s idol, Sachin Tendulkar. Taking to social media, Tendulkar wrote, “Congratulations to @RCBTweets on their first-ever IPL title. Fitting that jersey no. 18 lifts the trophy in the 18th edition. Well played and well deserved! Well played to @PunjabKingsIPL as well for a well-fought season.” The reference to Kohli’s iconic No. 18 jersey made the message even more special for fans.
Congratulations to @RCBTweets on their first-ever IPL title. Fitting that jersey no. 18 lifts the trophy in the 18th edition.
Well played and well deserved! 🏆 👏🏽
Well played to @PunjabKingsIPL as well for a well-fought season.
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) June 3, 2025
International admiration also poured in, including from English football star Harry Kane. Kane posted an old photo of himself with Kohli, writing on Instagram, “One from the archives to say a massive congrats to Virat Kohli and Royal Challengers Bengaluru on a first IPL title!! Unreal achievement.”
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Post-match, Kohli opened up to Matthew Hayden, saying, “This win is as much for the fans as it is for the team. I’ve given this franchise my youth, my prime, my experience — every ounce of myself. To finally experience this moment… it’s surreal. I’m going to sleep like a baby tonight.”
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In the end, it was poetic justice — No. 18 delivering glory in IPL’s 18th edition.
