"Ee Sala Cup Namde!" Kohli’s 18-Year Wait Ends with RCB’s Maiden IPL Triumph
After 18 years of unrelenting devotion, Virat Kohli, donning jersey No. 18, finally lifted the elusive IPL trophy as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) defeated Punjab Kings (PBKS) by six runs in a dramatic IPL 2025 final in Ahmedabad. Kohli, overwhelmed with emotion, sank to the turf in tears after the win. “I gave this team my youth, my prime, my everything,” said Kohli, his voice choked, reminiscing the emotional journey that ended in glory.
RCB, a team long associated with heartbreak and near misses, finally got its moment of redemption. Kohli, who had played three finals before, had to wait until age 36 to claim the title. Despite scoring a modest 43 off 35 balls, Kohli displayed the same grit that defined his career – running furiously, scolding himself for errors, and celebrating every run as if it were gold. He also acknowledged AB de Villiers, saying, “This is as much yours as it is ours.”
RCB's win was not about big names but about collective brilliance. With no marquee stars except Kohli, the team relied on understated performers. Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Yash Dayal formed a relentless pace trio, while Krunal Pandya turned the match with a brilliant bowling spell, choking PBKS during a tense middle phase.
PBKS showed resilience, especially Shashank Singh, who smashed 61 off 30 balls and nearly pulled off a miracle. But needing 29 in the final over, his late blitz came too late. Earlier, Prabhsimran Singh, Nehal Wadhera, and Josh Inglis struggled to break free on a sluggish pitch.
RCB’s batting was steady but unspectacular. Skipper Rajat Patidar, Phil Salt, and Liam Livingstone got starts, while Jitesh Sharma's quick cameo pushed the score to 190. PBKS’s bowlers, especially Kyle Jamieson and Arshdeep Singh, kept things tight.
In the end, it was Kohli's night, and RCB’s destiny fulfilled. The chants of "Ee Sala Cup Namde" finally rang true, ending 17 years of heartbreak and meme-fodder. For Kohli, it was 18th time lucky – a fairy-tale ending for RCB’s talisman.
