royal challengers bengaluru

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

June 3, 2025June 3, 2025 Kabir Khan No Comments

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.” Source link

Cricket

After IPL 2025 win, Krunal Pandya reveals telephone chat with brother Hardik Pandya | Cricket News

June 3, 2025June 3, 2025 Kabir Khan No Comments

Krunal Pandya (BCCI/IPL Photo) NEW DELHI: Krunal Pandya delivered a Player of the Match performance to guide Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Tuesday.Picked up by RCB for Rs 5.75 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction, Krunal brought out his full arsenal, refusing to let Punjab Kings gain control during their chase.His spell of 2 for 17, which included the crucial wickets of Prabhsimran Singh and Josh Inglis, proved to be a game-changer and played a key role in RCB’s six-run victory.Krunal later revealed that he had set his intentions clearly with the franchise during his very first conversation — he was there to win trophies — and he made good on that promise with a match-defining performance.“When we batted, we realised the slower you bowl, the better it is. In this format, you need guts to do it. I just backed myself and thought I’d vary my pace and keep it on the slower side more often. My biggest strength has been to learn what the situation requires. I knew I had to be brave to get wickets tonight. Thought I’d do that by bowling slow. If you’d have bowled quick, it’d have been a good wicket. But if you mixed it up, it was tougher. Pitch actually got easier in the second innings,” said Krunal while collecting the POTM trophy.“Have enjoyed my time with RCB so far. I told them on day one that I like to win trophies. I told Hardik too that the Pandya household will have nine trophies in 11 years,” he added. Krunal now has four IPL titles to his name — three with Mumbai Indians — and Tuesday’s performance marked the second time he has won the Player of the Match award in an IPL final. The first came in 2017, when he scored 47 off 38 balls to help Mumbai Indians defeat the now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiant. Source link

Cricket

RCB vs PBKS IPL 2025 finals: Bengaluru restaurants, pubs expecting 3X crowd on Tuesday; how are they preparing for it?

June 2, 2025June 2, 2025 Kabir Khan No Comments

As Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are set to face Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the finals of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 on Tuesday (June 3), restaurants and pubs across Bengaluru are bracing for two or three times the usual footfall, driven by a high demand from RCB fans, according to a report by The Hindu. Vinay Chandrashekhar, partner at Long Boat Brewing Co, Marathahalli, told the publication that while a typical Tuesday sees around 350-450 people, he is expecting at least 700 to 800 on June 3. Meanwhile, Alister Braganza, Senior Regional Business Manager, South at Impressario, which owns SOCIAL, said foot traffic at their outlets on Tuesday is anticipated to be three times higher than on a typical weekday. Notably, SOCIAL has many outlets across the city. How are restaurants preparing? Several restaurants have installed giant LED screens for a better viewing experience, introduced new items on the menu, organised several activities and will play Kannada songs to attract customers. With the good performance of RCB, the IPL 2025 season has been a blessing for most restaurants and pubs amid various challenges faced by the industry, including rising beer prices. Most restaurants and pubs are expected to be crowded on the final day, with several cricket enthusiasts already facing difficulties in bookings due to high demand. Customers advised to use public transport Amid the anticipation of a large crowd in restaurants across the city, restaurateurs have advised customers to use public transport. “The city is going to be chock-a-block on that day and hence, we are advising our patrons to not drive but take cabs or public transport. Parking is also going to be an issue if there are too many vehicles,” said Chethan Hegde, head of the Bengaluru chapter of the National Restaurants Association of India (NRAI), told Hindu. IPL 2025 finals The IPL 2025 final match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) will be held on June 3, 2025, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The match is scheduled to begin at 7:30 pm. The IPL 2025 finals match is a much-anticipated game among cricket enthusiasts as both RCB and PBKS have never lifted the IPL trophy before. Source link

Cricket

How Rohit Sharma’s ‘luck’ powered Mumbai Indians into IPL Qualifier 2 | Cricket News

May 30, 2025May 31, 2025 Kabir Khan No Comments

Rohit Sharma (image credit: BCCI/IPL) NEW DELHI: Mumbai Indians held their nerve better in a pressure-cooker Eliminator to outclass Gujarat Titans by 20 runs in a high-scoring IPL 2025 clash on Friday. Rohit Sharma (81 off 50) capitalised on early chances to play a pivotal knock, while Jonny Bairstow (47 off 22) made an instant impact on debut, powering MI to a commanding 228 for five in their 20 overs.After sealing a place in Qualifier 2, Player of the Match Rohit Sharma expressed pride in his side’s all-round effort.“I have got only four fifties. Would have loved to score more fifties. Good day for us as a team. I do understand the importance of playing this Eliminator and going through this and taking the next step forward. Really proud of a complete team effort,” Rohit said at the post-match presentation.“When I play the game, I try to do my best keeping everything aside. Making sure how I can do the job for the team. I had to make the most of the luck. I am glad I could do that. Get the team into a good position. It was going to be challenging with the dew coming. The bowlers held their nerves really well. To be honest, I have played those shots before in the tournament and found fielders. ‘I don’t want to be a one-season wonder’: Punjab Kings’ Shashank Singh “Somewhere down the line you got to be lucky and today was that day for me. I got lucky as those catches were dropped. But even after that you got to play. I was focussing on keeping the momentum and tempo going. Was a good bowling effort. Jonny I have watched him over the years from the other side. We know the quality he has. Lot of experience playing in this format. Never looked like he was playing the first game. We got the start and capitalized on it,” Rohit said.Mumbai Indians will now face Punjab Kings in Qualifier 2 in Ahmedabad on Sunday. The winner will meet Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL 2025 final on June 3.Gujarat Titans, despite being erratic in the field and with the ball, managed to stay in the hunt thanks to a masterful knock from Sai Sudharsan (80 off 49), but eventually fell short at 208 for six, bowing out of the tournament.Ultimately, it was Mumbai who won the crucial moments to stay alive in the playoffs. Despite the heavy dew, chasing down such a mammoth total in a knockout match demanded something extraordinary — and Sudharsan nearly delivered just that before his dismissal in the 16th over tilted the contest.Bumrah’s trademark yorker accounted for Washington Sundar (48 off 24), and Richard Gleeson struck the decisive blow by dismantling Sudharsan’s stumps when the left-hander missed a scoop, turning the tide in MI’s favour. Why no Shreyas Iyer for England tour? Coach Gautam Gambhir opens up While he was at the crease, Sudharsan’s strokeplay was a sight to behold. In a match dominated by brute power, the elegant left-hander stood out, threading gaps with surgical precision and timing.With the equation down to 36 off 12 balls, and left-handers Rahul Tewatia and Sherfane Rutherford at the crease, MI debutant Gleeson was handed the final over with 24 runs needed. He held his nerve to deliver three clinical deliveries, effectively sealing the win before walking off with an apparent hamstring issue. Source link

Cricket

PBKS hope to reap home advantage despite Kohli in rival camp

May 28, 2025May 29, 2025 Kabir Khan No Comments

Chandigarh: Like any other team in the Indian Premier League, Punjab Kings should be happy to be playing Qualifier 1 at home in Mullanpur. Local conditions do matter, and though PBKS have two wins and losses each in Mullanpur, the team management will be happy playing here. Punjab Kings, who will face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Qualifier 1 on Thursday, have reached the IPL playoffs after 11 years. (PTI) Unless of course the Virat Kohli factor comes into play and the Punjab fans come dressed in RCB shirts and cheer for Kohli. PBKS pacer Arshdeep Singh is conscious of that possibility as he appealed to the Punjab fans to support the home team on Thursday. The PBKS-RCB game in Mullanpur last month saw spectators vocally supporting RCB and Virat. Some even jeered a few PBKS players and their families. PBKS have reached the playoffs after 11 years. They will be playing in Mullanpur after 38 days and would want a pitch with extra bounce which their tall fast bowlers can exploit. They have had a great momentum throughout the tournament with the Shreyas Iyer-Ricky Ponting partnership lifting a franchise that had struggled in the last decade. Ponting though says the job is only half done. Speaking to the broadcaster after Monday’s win over Mumbai Indians in the last league game, Ponting said, “We have not achieved anything yet” with the “big games” still to come. “A lot of hard work goes into being able to achieve something like this as a team. It is pretty obvious that this is a really talented team that are all on the same page. It’s a great achievement till now, but really, if you look back, we’ve not achieved anything yet. That’s the one thing I have been saying to the players since the moment we qualified.” Ponting and Shreyas renewed their partnership in PBKS this season having worked together in Delhi Capitals and it has clicked. “The vision for me was always to finish in the top two, and we have got there now. It is a really happy group and we have enjoyed our time in each other’s company for the last ten weeks, but we have got another week to go,” said Ponting with an eye on winning a maiden IPL trophy. This could be the best chance for PBKS considering their performances with domestic cricketers making a mark. Openers Prabhsimran Singh and rookie Priyansh Arya have laid the platform for Iyer and Josh Inglis to build on. Shashank Singh continues to improve as a finisher, while Marcus Stoinis and Nehal Wadhera too have provided batting depth. The bowling has been dealt a blow with the departure of South Africa fast bowler Marco Jansen – he took 16 wickets, complementing Arshdeep (18). Jansen has left for national duty with the Proteas playing Australia in the World Test Championship final from June 11. Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, who missed the last two games due to a finger injury, is expected to return and team up with the accurate Harpreet Brar. It was Chahal’s four-wicket haul which helped PBKS beat KKR in a low-scoring game in Mullanpur. However, Iyer’s captaincy has provided stability in the team, the India batter delivering after being bought for a whopping ₹26.75 crore. “If you speak to the players individually, Shreyas has spent a lot of time with them. He has pumped them up, given them a pat on the back when they needed it, and given them a kick in the pants when they’ve needed it as well. That is a sign of a good and strong leader,” Ponting said. PBKS has had 16 captains before Iyer took over, and they will hope the man who led KKR to last year’s title will repeat it with them. A defeat won’t be the end of the road. The losers will play in Qualifier 2, against the winner of the Eliminator. RCB come off an impressive final league win on Tuesday against Lucknow Super Giants with Jitesh Sharma finding his touch like the other batters after his brilliant, unbeaten 85 off 33 balls. Source link

Cricket

Why Rajat Patidar Was Fined More Than Pat Cummins in IPL 2025: Full Breakdown

May 25, 2025May 25, 2025 Kabir Khan No Comments

Rajat Patidar Fined More Than Pat Cummins for IPL Slow Over-Rate: Here’s Why? In a recent turn of events during IPL 2025, fans were left puzzled as Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s interim captain Rajat Patidar received a steeper fine compared to Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Pat Cummins, despite both teams being penalized for the same offense — slow over-rate. But why was Patidar fined ₹24 lakh while Cummins got away with ₹12 lakh? Here’s the full explanation. The Offense: Slow Over-Rate in IPL The IPL Code of Conduct has strict guidelines regarding over-rates to ensure matches run on time. Teams are expected to bowl their 20 overs within the stipulated 90 minutes. Any delay without valid justification results in fines, and in repeat cases, suspensions. First-Time vs Repeat Offender Under IPL regulations: Thus, Patidar’s heavier penalty was a result of the team’s repeated breach of over-rate rules, not a harsher ruling against him individually. The Bigger Picture IPL 2025 has seen a strong push to enforce match timings strictly. With tight broadcast schedules and audience engagement at stake, the BCCI has shown zero tolerance for delays. Captains, especially stand-ins like Patidar, carry the burden of leading from the front and ensuring tactical decisions do not eat into game time. It also emphasizes that the IPL holds teams accountable, not just individual leaders. Conclusion While both Cummins and Patidar were guilty of slow over-rates, the fines reflect their teams’ compliance history rather than favoritism or inconsistency in penalties. This incident serves as a reminder to all teams: every over, every minute, and every decision counts. Read more…

News, Cricket, Sports

“Depicting CSK Were In Jail For Two Years…”: Ex-RCB Star Slams Ugly Fan War

May 17, 2025May 17, 2025 Kabir Khan

Ahead of the resumption of the Indian Premier League (IPL), former India batter Robin Uthappa has bashed the ugly fan war between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) supporters. Over the past few seasons, the banter between CSK and RCB fans has become ugly at times, with both sets of supporters firing ugly jibes at each other. Even the matches between the two sides have led to a few heated moments. While CSK have enjoyed historical success, RCB have had the edge over them in the last two seasons, winning three out of four contests. Days before the suspension of the IPL, RCB edged out CSK in a thriller to bolster their chances of qualifying for the playoffs. Prior to the match, RCB fans were seen selling ‘CSK jail’ jerseys, mocking them over the two seasons they were banned from the IPL (2016 and 2017). However, Uthappa, who represented both the franchises during his IPL career, wasn’t impressed with the RCB fans holding up white T-shirts with black strips to mock CSK supporters. “It was pretty intense, Outside the stadium, they were mocking the team, the players of the team when the bus was leaving, that was one thing that I saw, which I thought was in bad taste. The other one that I saw were the fans fighting with each other. I saw women being heckled, which felt unsavory, to be very honest. We saw that even in Chennai last year, again, uncalled for. It’s not on whatsoever,” said Uthappa on his YouTube channel. “It has gotten pretty intense. They are holding up jerseys, white T-shirts marked with black lines, stating the two years that CSK were banned for. They have kind of written MS’ number on it, and Thala under it, depicting that they were in jail for two years, or whatever. It’s getting a little beyond sport which concerns me. Because at the end of the day, this is a sport,” he added. RCB need a win from their remaining three matches to qualify for the playoffs, while CSK are already out of the top four race. Topics mentioned in this article Source link

Cricket