Bengaluru: After 18 long years, Virat Kohli finally lifted the IPL trophy as Royal Challengers Bengaluru edged past Punjab Kings by six runs in the 2025 final in Ahmedabad on Tuesday. Kohli, who top-scored for RCB with 43 off 35 balls, had anchored the innings before the bowlers held their nerve to complete a historic win. The final was played at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Soon after winning, Kohli said ‘It’s been 18 long years, I have given this team my youth, my prime and my experience…..I have given each and every ounce to this team…My heart is with Bengalore (Bengaluru), my soul is with Bangalore (Bengaluru)….Tonight, I am going to sleep like a baby…”
Kohli took to Instagram to post a heartfelt message for RCB fans and teammates. “This team made the dream possible, a season I’ll never ever forget,” he wrote.
Moments he will never forget 🏆
Moments they will never forget 🤩🎥 Virat Kohli 🤝 The #RCB faithful ❤#TATAIPL | #RCBvPBKS | #Final | #TheLastMile | @RCBTweets | @imVkohli pic.twitter.com/ObyJxRI0C0
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) June 3, 2025
Watch What Kohli Said:
🗣🗣 My heart is for Bangalore, my soul is for Bangalore…this is the team I will play for until the last day that I play the IPL.
🎥 Virat Kohli, straight from the heart as a #TATAIPL champion ❤#RCBvPBKS | #Final | #TheLastMile | @imVkohli | @RCBTweets pic.twitter.com/4UI4yNKLuB
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) June 3, 2025
“This one is for the fans of RCB who never ever left our side in the worst of times. This one is for all the years of heartbreaks and disappointment. This is for every inch of effort left on the field playing for this team. As far as the IPL trophy is concerned—you’ve made me wait 18 years to be able to lift you and celebrate, my friend, but it’s been absolutely worth the wait.”
The win marked RCB’s maiden IPL title after three failed attempts in previous finals. Kohli had played every season for the franchise since 2008. After the final ball, he collapsed to the ground in relief and then shared a warm embrace with former India coach Ravi Shastri.
Blood, toil, tears and sweat!
Ee Sala Cup Namde!❤️🏆
Congratulations RCB
18 years of faith and loyalty – so worth it #ViratKohli𓃵 pic.twitter.com/LsOY55csj2
— Supriya Shrinate (@SupriyaShrinate) June 3, 2025
Kohli’s knock was steady and vital, helping RCB reach 190 for 9. Mayank Agarwal (24) and Rajat Patidar (26) provided crucial support in the middle order. But Punjab kept striking at regular intervals. Kyle Jamieson, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Arshdeep Singh all chipped in with wickets. This kept RCB from running away with the game.
It wasn’t an one-sided game. Punjab fought hard. Shashank Singh scored an unbeaten 61. Krunal Pandya’s miserly spell of 2 for 17 and Josh Hazlewood’s calm last over made the dent. Punjab needed 29 off the final six balls. Shashank did his best with a flurry of sixes. However, he fell just short.
For Kohli, the title capped a journey of nearly two decades with one franchise. But the wait finally ended with silverware in his hand and it was ‘worth every second.’