Seventeen seasons of heartbreak, near-misses, and relentless belief — all of it came pouring out in one emotional moment as Virat Kohli broke down in tears after Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) finally lifted their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) trophy.
RCB defeated Punjab Kings by 6 runs in a thrilling IPL 2025 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Monday night, sealing a long-awaited championship that had eluded the franchise since the league’s inception.
The defining image of the night wasn’t the trophy, nor the final winning moment — it was Kohli, eyes brimming with tears, sinking to his knees, overcome by emotion as his teammates rushed to embrace him. A visibly emotional Kohli then hugged longtime RCB supporters and team staff, with the chants of “RCB, RCB” echoing across the packed stadium.
RCB had earlier posted 190/9, thanks to vital contributions from Kohli and Rajat Patidar. The bowlers then rose to the occasion under pressure, with Krunal Pandya delivering a superb 4-0-17-2 spell, while Josh Hazlewood and Romario Shepherd held their nerve at the death.
Punjab Kings pushed hard in the chase but ultimately fell short, finishing 6 runs adrift as RCB’s bowlers closed out the final overs.
For Kohli, this moment was about far more than a trophy — it was about years of dedication to the RCB cause, a journey that saw him lead the team to three previous finals without success. On this night, at last, the stars aligned.
RCB’s triumph will go down as one of the most emotional and iconic chapters in IPL history — forever remembered for the tears of a champion, Virat Kohli.
