Virat Kohli delivered when it mattered most, stroking an unbeaten 75 to guide Royal Challengers Bengaluru to back-to-back Indian Premier League titles with a commanding five-wicket victory over Gujarat Titans in front of 90,000 roaring fans at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.
The 37-year-old maestro sealed Bengaluru’s second consecutive crown in trademark style, a towering six that sparked pandemonium in the RCB dugout and sent his teammates sprinting onto the field in wild celebration. Kohli’s heroics, combined with a clinical bowling display that strangled Gujarat to 155/8, cemented Bengaluru’s status as the IPL’s new dynasty.
Stuff dreams are made of
After restricting the Titans to a below-par total, Bengaluru knocked off the target with 12 balls to spare as Kohli reached his fifth half-century of the season when it counted most. His magnificent 42-ball knock, studded with nine boundaries and three sixes, left Gujarat’s bowlers grasping at shadows.
“Stuff you dream of. Thought of this moment many times, wanting to hit the winning run,” said Kohli, who claimed the player of the match award. “Felt really relaxed coming in. The team we have gives confidence to see any kind of situation through. Knew exactly what to do in the chase.”
The veteran admitted the emergence of young talent has pushed him to new heights: “Such is the demand (with) super young players pushing you to up the ante.”
Kohli’s iconic number 18 jersey dominated the stands at the world’s biggest cricket ground, where official attendance topped 90,000 spectators who witnessed history unfold.
Flying start sets platform
Kohli and fellow opener Venkatesh Iyer ambushed Gujarat’s new-ball attack, racing to 62 before Mohammed Siraj broke through to dismiss Iyer for a blistering 32 off just 16 deliveries. Kagiso Rabada immediately struck from the other end to remove Devdutt Padikkal, briefly swinging momentum Gujarat’s way.
Leg-spin wizard Rashid Khan threatened to derail the chase completely, striking twice in one over to account for captain Rajat Patidar (15) and Krunal Pandya. At that stage, Gujarat sensed an opening.
But Tim David joined Kohli in a crucial 41-run partnership that steadied the ship and wrestled back control. David departed for 24, yet Kohli remained unflappable, guiding Bengaluru home with Jitesh Sharma for company and capping the triumph with that decisive maximum.
“We knew what kind of ability we have in the group. And we just said one thing, ‘If we stick to our cricket, if we execute our plans, we are the best team in the competition,’” Kohli declared.
Patidar joins elite company
Birthday boy Patidar celebrated turning 33 by joining M.S. Dhoni and Rohit Sharma as the only IPL captains to lift back-to-back titles. Dhoni achieved the feat with Chennai Super Kings in 2010 and 2011, whilst Sharma led Mumbai Indians to consecutive crowns in 2019 and 2020.
“This year was more calm with the way we played throughout the tournament,” said Patidar, reflecting on Bengaluru’s dominant campaign that saw them finish atop the 10-team table. “My way of captaincy is different. I am not expressive but aware of the game situations.”
The skipper’s measured approach has transformed Bengaluru from perennial underachievers to genuine powerhouses. After finally breaking their duck at the 18th attempt last year, they’ve established themselves as the team to beat.
Quicks lay the foundation
Bengaluru’s pace attack set up the victory long before Kohli applied the finishing touches. Rasikh Salam starred with 3-27 in a disciplined bowling display, whilst Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar both snared two wickets apiece to justify Patidar’s decision to insert Gujarat.
Hazlewood struck the first blow, dismissing skipper Shubman Gill for just 10 after Patidar took a superb running catch. Kumar dislodged the other opener, Sai Sudharsan, for 12 in the following over, leaving Gujarat reeling.
Both Gill and Sudharsan entered the final chasing the Orange Cap, but Rajasthan Royals’ teenage prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi finished top of the run charts with 776 runs. The 15-year-old sensation also claimed player of the tournament honours and the emerging player award.
Gill (732) and Sudharsan (722) finished second and third respectively, with Kohli fourth on 675 runs.
Lone resistance
Nishant Sindhu (20) and Jos Buttler attempted to rebuild Gujarat’s innings but struggled against Bengaluru’s miserly attack. Salam removed Sindhu before Krunal Pandya had Buttler stumped for 19 with his left-arm spin, leaving the Titans floundering at 73/4.
Only Washington Sundar offered genuine resistance, grinding out a defiant unbeaten 50 that he reached in the final over. But the effort proved insufficient as wickets continued tumbling at the other end.
“We have apex predators but couldn’t get going in the powerplay,” admitted Gujarat batting coach Matthew Hayden. “I thought it was an incredible bowling performance by RCB.”
Gujarat finished runners-up for the second time in three finals, having won their maiden title in their debut season of 2022. For Bengaluru, the celebrations will stretch long into the night as they savour becoming just the third franchise to defend their IPL crown.
Kohli, who has stepped away from Test cricket and T20 internationals to focus solely on ODIs for India, continues to prove that class remains permanent in the shortest format.
