Tag: virat kohli

‘If India get flogged 5-0 in England … ‘: Michael Clarke’s bold claim on Virat Kohli’s Test comeback | Cricket News

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NEW DELHI: Former Australia captain Michael Clarke believes Virat Kohli, who has often called Test cricket the pinnacle of the sport, might come out of retirement if India endure a heavy defeat in the upcoming five-Test series in England and the team management and selectors request his return.Kohli had announced his retirement from the longest format last month after playing 123 Tests for India, amassing 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries.“I believe this. If India go to England and get flogged, if they lose the series 5-0 for example, I think the fans will want Virat Kohli to come out of retirement and play Test cricket again,” Clarke told the Beyond23 Cricket podcast on Friday.“And I honestly, I think if he was asked by the captain, selectors and supported by fans, if they get beaten big time in England, I think he’ll come. He still loves Test cricket.“I think his words, I think those words, like you could hear his passion for Test cricket is real.” Gautam Gambhir sends stern message after Bengaluru tragedy After fulfilling his long-standing dream of winning the IPL with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Kohli had said the title still ranked “five levels under Test cricket.”Both Kohli and Rohit Sharma had announced their retirement from the Test format ahead of the England series, which begins with the opening match in Leeds on June 20.“Rohit Sharma retires from Test cricket. I think tactically any team will miss his captaincy. I think tactically he was a brilliant captain. Virat Kohli walks away from Test cricket. Devastating! What an absolute champion he’s been and Test cricket will miss him,” Clarke said. Source link

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The IPL 2025 Team of the Tournament

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IPL 2025 was a tournament like no other. Apart from being disrupted by a war and having a new winner, it had a whole clutch of players making significant impacts across teams. That makes picking a Tournament XI (or XII with an impact player) doubly difficult. For example, who do you pick as an opener when all, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Mitchell Marsh, Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Ayush Mhatre make different but compelling cases? Let us solve just that dilemma through this selection. Also Read | IPL 2025: How much prize money champions RCB, Punjab Kings take home? The openers From among the worthy candidates listed above, I have gone for Phil Salt and Sai Sudharsan. It was a wrench leaving Kohli out, especially in a championship-winning season. But Sudharsan as opener was probably the best of the lot, and to complement his stability – and given the batting to follow – I have gone for the more explosive Salt. The middle-order These picks should meet with near-universal acclaim: Jos Buttler, Suryakumar Yadav and Shreyas Iyer. Buttler was easily the best No. 3 in the competition and will be the ideal man to come in regardless of whether there is a set platform or a wicket has fallen early. He will be followed by the best batter in the tournament, Suryakumar Yadav. The run of scores that SKY racked up is still unbelievable. He achieved consistency without sacrificing scoring speed in the most volatile format. Batting one spot below the No. 4 as he had during the latter half of the IPL is Shreyas Iyer, who will also be the team captain. Shreyas had a pretty incredible season with the bat alone, unveiling his revamped white-ball game in its full glory. His leadership of the Punjab Kings (PBKS) was inspirational and astute, and he marshalled a team with several rookies expertly. Also Read | RCB’s IPL 2025: End of an 18-year wait — tracing RCB’s journey to glory The lower middle-order Krunal Pandya is a sure-shot entry. He has had an underrated superstar season, coming to the fore with the ball in almost every match, and doing the job with the bat too when he was required. Krunal had his best-ever wicket-taking season as a bowler, taking 17 wickets overall. While he is slotted into the lower middle-order, he is not someone who can hit out right off the bat. He will be more of a firefighter than a firestarter, so the two men alongside him need to be of the type who can get going fast. Both Jitesh Sharma and Naman Dhir have shown that ability amply this IPL. They are among the best at starting quickly, while also having the ability to finish explosively. Jitesh’s keeping has also been understatedly brilliant, so he will take the gloves ahead of Buttler or Salt (who was great in the outfield anyway). The bowlers Three pace bowlers had standout seasons: Josh Hazlewood, Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna. They are all automatic entrants in the Team of the Tournament. Hazlewood was Bangalore’s colossus, incisive whenever he came on, and hard to score off to boot. Prasidh showed impressive control of length, which allied with his natural strengths of pace, bounce, and movement to fetch him the most number of wickets for the season. Also Read | IPL 2025 recap: From Kohli and RCB conquering final frontier to decline of champions As for Bumrah, well, he was Bumrah. A cut above the rest, a genius nonpareil, and a bowler who can seemingly conjure magic on demand. Even when he gave up a 20-run over, he ensured his next three overs went for just 20. A champion if there ever was one. Two left-arm wrist spinners were in contention: Noor Ahmad and Kuldeep Yadav. Noor won because he had to perform for a team where most others were floundering consistently. He often did not have the cushion of runs to play with and inconsistent bowling support. Yet he shone brightly for CSK. Kuldeep was also excellent, but he had a better team around him. The XII: Sai Sudharsan, Phil Salt, Jos Buttler, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer (c), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Naman Dhir, Krunal Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Josh Hazlewood, Noor Ahmad. There are four players from Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), one from Punjab Kings (PBKS), three from Mumbai Indians (MI), three from Gujarat Titans (GT) and one from Chennai Super Kings (CSK). This XII also satisfies the four overseas player criteria (Salt, Buttler, Halzewood and Noor). None of the bowlers can really bat, but given their own skills and the batting line-up they have, they won’t really need to. So one of them can sit out of the batting XI. Buttler might well be the one to sit out of the bowling XI, since he won’t have the gloves. Source link

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Ponting reacts to Virat Kohli breaking down in tears during last over: ‘CSK, MI have won IPL a few times. It’s not easy’

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Jun 05, 2025 12:32 PM IST Virat Kohli ended a long wait for IPL title victory on Tuesday night, with RCB defeating Punjab Kings by 6 runs in the final. Ricky Ponting, head coach of Punjab Kings and one of the most respected voices in world cricket, offered a moving perspective on Virat Kohli’s emotional reaction following Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s long-awaited IPL title win. The legendary Australian said Kohli’s tears were a testament to the emotional and personal toll of chasing the elusive trophy for 18 seasons, and how much it means to players. Virat Kohli in tears after RCB won IPL 2025(PTI) Kohli, overwhelmed by emotion as RCB sealed a six-run win over Punjab Kings in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Tuesday, dropped to his knees in tears. The image captured the end of a wait that spanned the entire history of the IPL; Kohli is the only player to have represented only one franchise since the first season of the tournament in 2008. “You can see in his eyes in that last over, he was shedding a tear, that’s what it means to players, that’s what it means to everyone,” Ponting told reporters after the final. “Chennai (Super Kings) have won it a few times, Mumbai (Indians) have won it a few times, but it’s not an easy tournament to win — it is as simple as that — and you have to think long and hard about that. It’s not easy to win this thing.” Ponting on Kohli’s ‘Test’ remark Ponting, who has played and won ICC World Cups and led dominant Australian teams across formats, used his own career to back Kohli’s honest admission that IPL glory still doesn’t match up to the pride of representing one’s country in Test cricket. Kohli stated in his post-match reaction that despite the IPL victory being one of the top-most moments of his career, it stands “five marks below Test cricket.” Ponting echoed Kohli’s reverence for the red-ball game. “I’m probably one of the biggest purists of the game still involved. Whether I’m coaching or commentating, my first love is Test match cricket, always will be.” “But I totally understand what he means… this is as close as I can get to playing a Test match again.” News / Cricket News / Ponting reacts to Virat Kohli breaking down in tears during last over: ‘CSK, MI have won IPL a few times. It’s not easy’ See Less Source link

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From tears to triumph: Virat Kohli’s emotional IPL coronation after 18-year wait | Cricket News

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Virat Kohli holds the IPL trophy. (Pic credit: IPL) TimesofIndia.com in Ahmedabad: After Josh Hazlewood bowled the second dot of the final over, Virat Kohli’s face appeared on the big screen at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. He was seen wiping tears from his eyes. The moment the last ball was bowled, he fell to his knees, and the emotions flowed.He was mobbed by his current RCB teammates. Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers, his former RCB mates with whom he lost the final in 2016, were there to give him warm hugs. His biggest supporter, wife Anushka Sharma, was there to live the moment. In another emotional video, he jumps and hugs former India coach Ravi Shastri.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Right from the start of the day, it felt like it was written in the stars. There was a sea of Jersey No. 18 entering the stadium. The chants of “Virat, Virat” and “RCB, RCB” were easily heard from afar. The crowd was one-sided. They cheered for every RCB boundary, six, and wicket — but fell silent when Kohli was dismissed.Who’s that IPL player?When he collapsed onto the ground after the final ball, the first person to reach him was a cameraman — who probably had only one job: to capture his emotions.Virat generally wears his heart on his sleeve. The usual post-wicket roar was there, but after winning the IPL — the trophy he had chased for 18 years — something was missing. It was a subdued celebration from Kohli. Perhaps because he never truly believed this day would come. He even admitted as much. ‘A particularly special feeling’: Andy Flower hails Virat Kohli, RCB after historic title win “I never thought this day would come,” he told broadcasters after the match.“It has been 18 long years. I have given this team my youth, my prime, and my experience. I have tried to win this every season that I have played, and I have given everything I have. To finally have this moment come — it’s an unbelievable feeling.”The past few years hadn’t been kind to Virat. He was dogged by poor form, self-doubt, criticism, and mental health struggles. He relinquished captaincy in all three formats — including the IPL. And it seemed like Kohli was fading away, like so many sporting icons do.But he fought his demons. He produced one of the greatest T20I knocks against Pakistan at the MCG in the 2022 T20 World Cup. While T20s were never considered his forte, 50-over cricket has always been his domain — where he has reigned supreme. He was the leading run-scorer in the 2023 ODI World Cup, where, heartbreakingly, the dream was shattered at this very venue.Yet again, he picked himself up. He was asked to open alongside Rohit Sharma ahead of the 2024 T20 World Cup. He struggled through most of the tournament, only to score a stunning 76 in the final against South Africa in Barbados. He then added another feather to his cap by winning the 2025 Champions Trophy.Kohli shocked the cricketing world by announcing his retirement from Test cricket — the format he loved the most.Even after winning the IPL after so many years, he didn’t consider it anywhere near his achievements in Test cricket.“This moment is right up there with the best moments I’ve had in my career, but it still ranks five levels below Test cricket. That’s how much I love and value the format,” he told Matthew Hayden after the match.“I would just urge youngsters coming through to treat that format with respect. If you perform in Test cricket, you can walk around anywhere in the world, and people will look you in the eye, shake your hand, and say, ‘Well done, you played the game really well.’ If you want to earn respect globally, take up Test cricket, give it your heart and soul — and when you walk out the other side, you’ll have earned the respect of the cricketing world and legends like yourself.” ‘Daring, Dynamic, Different’: Ponting hails PBKS young guns despite final loss Punjab Kings head coach Ricky Ponting echoed Kohli’s sentiments.“I’m probably one of the biggest purists still involved in the game, whether I’m coaching or commentating. My first love is Test cricket — always has been,” he told reporters.“I totally understand what Virat means. He’s had a magnificent Test career, and an even better white-ball career that’s still ongoing. I’m not sure how much of a celebrator he is, but I reckon he’ll be celebrating long and hard tonight — and over the next few days,” said Ponting.Now, with the 18-year wait finally over and the monkey off RCB’s back, the question is: Will we now see a dominant RCB in years to come? And with Virat Kohli still scoring runs for fun, it’s a dangerous sign for all other teams.So, fasten your seatbelts — because as Virat said, his heart and soul are with Bangalore. That clearly means he’s not done yet, and the all-time great is coming for more. Source link

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

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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

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IPL 2025: Virat Kohli promises special RCB victory parade in Bengaluru on June 4

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Royal Challengers Bengaluru will paint the city red when they return home on Wednesday, 4 June, to celebrate their landmark Indian Premier League victory, Virat Kohli said moments after clinching the elusive title in Ahmedabad. Kohli grew emotional as he reflected on his relationship with the fans, revealing that a special treat had been lined up for RCB supporters on Wednesday. RCB defeated Punjab Kings by six runs in the IPL 2025 final, bringing an end to their 18-year-long wait for the trophy. Kohli broke down in tears even before the final ball was bowled at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Overcome by emotion, he sank to the ground and celebrated the long-awaited triumph with his teammates. Shortly after, Kohli was joined by his former teammates AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle as he paid tribute to the leaders who had helped shape the franchise through the years. He shared a heartfelt embrace with De Villiers before reuniting with his wife, Anushka Sharma, at the venue. IPL 2025 Final, RCB vs PBKS: Highlights Speaking to broadcasters JioStar after the historic win, Kohli said he was eagerly looking forward to celebrating with RCB fans in Bengaluru. He expressed awe after watching videos of the fireworks and jubilant scenes that erupted across the city following the win. “It’s going to be something special,” Kohli said, inviting De Villiers and Gayle to be part of the celebrations with fans in Bengaluru. Chris Gayle revealed that a victory parade would be held in Bengaluru on Wednesday. “The city is waiting. My god. I’m thinking about them. Imagine what the fans must be feeling now, poor ones. Someone sent me a video – the entire city is filled with fireworks. The whole city. It’s very special. I can’t express my feelings. I have to experience it,” Kohli added. NEVER SEEN LOYALTY LIKE THAT: KOHLI Kohli also reflected on his enduring bond with the fans, crediting their loyalty as a key reason he stayed with RCB for 18 years. He remains the only player in IPL history to represent the same franchise since the league’s inception in 2008. “I said it straight away – this is as much for the fans as it is for us. These guys have stuck with RCB through horrible seasons and great ones. They’ve turned up every single time at the Chinnaswamy. I’ve never seen loyalty like that. That’s what made me never waver from RCB. That’s why this is so special,” he said. Kohli acknowledged that both the team and their fans had been subjected to trolling over the years, but said those tough moments only served to strengthen their bond. “I’ve taken a lot of stress. I’ve heard all sorts of things: ‘RCB this, RCB that’. It’s all part of the journey. A lot of people have trolled us. A lot of people have made fun of us. All of it happened. But it made us stronger. It brought us closer – as a team, and as a franchise. The relationship our fans have with RCB, that golden connection, was forged through all these setbacks. Tonight, I will sleep peacefully. It’s not going to be one of those nights of endless partying. Just peace,” he added. Kohli top-scored for RCB with a composed 43 in their total of 190. Krunal Pandya led a collective bowling effort that saw RCB successfully defend the total by six runs. RCB became the eighth different team to win the IPL title. Their success in 2025 was underscored by yet another brilliant season from Kohli, who finished with 657 runs in 15 matches — a testament to his enduring class and commitment. Stay updated on IPL 2025 with India Today! Get match schedules, team squads, live score, and the latest IPL points table for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, SRH, LSG, DC, GT, PBKS, and RR. Plus, keep track of the top contenders for the IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap. Don’t miss a moment! Published By: Akshay Ramesh Published On: Jun 4, 2025 Source link

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Nikhil Kamath praises ‘Bangalore Boy’ Virat Kohli after RCB’s thrilling IPL 2025 win | Trending

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Jun 04, 2025 01:36 AM IST Nikhil Kamath hailed Kohli as the new ‘Bangalore Boy’ after RCB won their first IPL trophy, ending an 18-year wait. Zerodha’s Nikhil Kamath praised Virat Kohli as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) won their maiden IPL trophy after nearly two decades. Honouring the ace cricketer from Delhi, Kamath said that after the win, Kohli became “the Bangalore Boy.” Nikhil Kamath congratulated RCB for its historic IPL win over Punjab Kings. (PTI, File) “Virat Kohli you are the #BangaloreBoy today. Congrats RCB,” he wrote in an Instagram story, along with a heart emoji. Check out the post here: Nikhil Kamath shared a congratulatory message for RCB and Virat Kohli.(Instagram/nikhilkamathcio) Kamath’s comments came just hours after the IPL team defeated Punjab Kings in a tightly contested match. With a few balls to go, an emotional Virat Kohli was seen fighting back tears of disbelief as an 18-year-old dream came close to becoming a reality, with every moment. As the last ball was bowled and RCB emerged victorious, the former captain sunk to his knees and cried on the ground as teammates surrounded him. ““This win is as much for the fans as it is for the team. It’s been 18 long years. I’ve given this team my youth, prime and experience. I’ve tried to win it every season, gave it everything I have. To finally have it is an unbelievable feeling. Never thought this day would come, I was overcome with emotion after the last ball was bowled. Gave each and every ounce of my energy and it’s an amazing feeling,” he said. Fans celebrate across India For RCB fans, celebrations began late in the night as their team finally lifted its first-ever IPL trophy. “Ee sala cup naamde” turned into reality as supporters flooded the streets with joy, and fireworks filled the skies. Many shared videos of fireworks and celebrations in Bengaluru, comparing the festivities to Diwali. In the days leading up to the final, fans were seen organising hawans, offering digital snans to RCB team photos and going to temples with photos of Virat Kohli, seeking blessings for a win. (Also read: Indian billionaire celebrates like a true fan as RCB ends title drought and lifts IPL 2025 trophy) News / Trending / Nikhil Kamath praises ‘Bangalore Boy’ Virat Kohli after RCB’s thrilling IPL 2025 win See Less Source link

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Cup Namdu!: RCB fans ecstatic as Bengaluru team wins maiden IPL trophy

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Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fans celebrating on Church Street after the team won the IPL 2025 trophy, in Bengaluru on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. | Photo Credit: K. MURALI KUMAR Seventeen years, one prayer — and it was finally answered on Tuesday as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) won its maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title to send the club faithful into rapturous delight. On a frenzied evening in the Garden City where fans packed every available space — from pubs to restobars to open grounds to shopping malls to even narrow alleys in apartment complexes — Rajat Patidar’s band of merry men ensured that one of cricket’s most loyal fan bases would finally experience the taste of salvation. As the nail-biting match drew to a close and RCB victory was imminent, Bengaluru sky lit up with crackers and the air filled with screams of joy. “It’s finally ours!” an ecstatic Kishore, a fan at a public screening, screamed. “This victory feels very special, especially after losing thrice in the final before. We are also very happy for Virat Kohli. He has given his all for this club from the beginning.” A large number of fans of Royal Challengers Bengaluru celebrating after the team won the IPL trophy, in Bengaluru on Tuesday, June 03, 2025. | Photo Credit: K. MURALI KUMAR “A successfully achieved feat through hard work and determination!” said another supporter, Veena V. Ram, as firecrackers lit up the night sky. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, an ardent cricket fan, took to social media platform X, congratulating the team for “a historic IPL triumph”. “From electrifying performances to unshakable spirit, this triumph has ignited the pride of Karnataka and thrilled fans across the world.” A day of anxiety and hope  Excitement of fans began early in the day as the city wore a festive look. At street corners, pubs, apartments and playgrounds, screens were installed and hundreds gathered to watch the nail-biting final with anxiety and hope. Nearly 10,000 people saw the match live on massive screens at BGS Grounds at Vijayanagar. Many had been out on the road since afternoon, buying merchandise, arranging screenings, and some even taking out bike rallies with RCB flags. With most restobars in the city arranging screenings, crowds had started to gather on Church Street, Brigade Road and M.G. Road by 3 p.m. Royal Challengers Bengaluru fans celebrating in Bengaluru on Tuesday, June 03, 2025.. | Photo Credit: K. MURALI KUMAR Hundreds gathered near the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, which is also the home ground of RCB to buy jerseys, caps, flags, and other merchandise of the team. “Whether RCB wins or not, today is a celebration,” said Vikram Jain, earlier in the day. Aslam Sheikh, a jersey vendor operating near Cubbon Park said, all smiles, “Everyone is wearing red, cheering, and celebrating. It’s good for business and for the spirit of the city!” Published – June 04, 2025 12:46 am IST Source link

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‘Virat Kohli gave his heart to team’: Anand Mahindra’s moving tribute after RCB’s historic IPL win | Trending

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Jun 04, 2025 12:43 AM IST In addition to Anand Mahindra, Harsh Goenka and Nikhil Kamath also shared their reactions to RCB’s IPL 2025 win. Royal Challengers Bengaluru finally lifted the IPL trophy after 18 years of wait, and to say fans are overjoyed is an understatement. From bursting fireworks to crying over their team’s win, various posts about the moment have taken over social media. Anand Mahidnra has joined the celebrations, too, with a special X post dedicated to Virat Kohli. Anand Mahindra took to X to share a special post for Virat Kohli after RCB’s win. (Screengrab (X), File Photo) Mahindra wrote, “Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark. – Tagore”. He then added a few lines about Virat Kohli and his perseverance. “For 18 years, Virat Kohli gave his heart to a team that had never touched the trophy. Waiting for the light of that dawn. And now, at last, the stars have answered his faith. Loyalty like this doesn’t just win titles — it carves legacies,” Anand Mahindra continued. What did social media say? Echoing Mahindra’s emotion, people posted varied comments about RCB’s win in IPL 2025. An individual wrote, “Beautifully said, sir! Virat Kohli’s dedication and loyalty truly made this victory legendary. Proud moment for all fans!” Another added, “Hard work gets rewarded. Sooner or later. Stay at it. Never give up.” A third remarked, “The path was not easy. It took 18 years. But it’s worth it.” A fourth posted, “This Man is now the MOST COMPLETE cricketer on this planet. He now has all the trophies in his cabinet.” RCB won by six runs over Punjab Kings (PBKS). Following the team’s victory, fans, especially in Bengaluru, started celebrating. A series of videos on social media show the city’s night skies lit up with fireworks. Anand Mahindra is not the only one who expressed joy at RCB’s win. Harsh Goenka and Nikhil Kamath have taken to their social media profiles to join the celebrations. News / Trending / ‘Virat Kohli gave his heart to team’: Anand Mahindra’s moving tribute after RCB’s historic IPL win See Less Source link

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PBKS hope to reap home advantage despite Kohli in rival camp

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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

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