Ecstatic Kohli revels in first IPL title, albeit below Test highs

Virat Kohli said on Tuesday he had given his “youth and prime” to land one of the best moments of his career as Royal Challengers Bengaluru secured him a first-ever Indian Premier League T20 title at the 18th time of asking.

The 36-year-old Kohli, however, confessed that the six-run win over Punjab Kings in Ahmedabad, sweet as it was, ranked “five levels below Test cricket”.

The former India captain, who announced his retirement from Test cricket last month, top-scored with 43 as Bengaluru posted 190-9 in the final.

It was not his most fluent innings, but it was vital for RCB as their bowlers then restricted Punjab to 184-7 with a crowd of more than 91,000 erupting in joy for their superstar.

A teary-eyed Kohli, who has played in all 18 of RCB’s campaigns including the three previous finals that they lost, dropped to the ground before being hugged by his teammates.

“I’ve given this team my youth, my prime, my experience. I gave it everything I have. I never thought this day would come. I was overcome with emotion as soon as the last ball was bowled,” said Kohli before launching into an impassioned defence of the oldest and longest format of the game.

“This moment is right up there with the best moments in my career. But it still ranks five levels below Test cricket. That’s how much I value Test cricket. And that’s how much I love Test cricket.

“So I would just urge the youngsters coming through… if you want to earn respect in world cricket all over, take up Test cricket, give your heart and soul to it.”

Punjab head coach Ricky Ponting said: “I totally understand what he (Kohli) means”.

Two-time World Cup winner Kohli has now walked away from two international formats after he gave up T20s following India’s World Cup triumph last year.

One of the all-time greats across all formats of the game, Kohli has always been the perfect poster boy of the five-day game with his prolific run-scoring and on-field passion in whites.

‘King Kohli’ ended his Test career with 9,230 runs in 123 matches at an average of 46.85.

In the IPL, Kohli joined Bengaluru at the start of lucrative league in 2008 and stuck with them after the disappointment of losing side the finals in 2009, 2011 and 2016.

Kohli remained a key player for his team this season with 657 runs including eight half-centuries in 15 innings, often playing the anchor after opening the batting.

“Tonight I’ll sleep like a baby,” said Kohli, who hinted that a full retirement may not be far off.

“I have an opportunity to play this game for not many years, there’s an end-date to our career.

“And by the time I hang up my boots, I want to sit at home and say I gave it everything I had.”