 Ahmedabad: Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Virat Kohli celebrates with former cricketers Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers while posing with the winner’s trophy after RCB’s victory in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 final match against Punjab Kings, in Ahmedabad on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (Photo: IANS) New Delhi, June 4 (IANS) After finally winning their first IPL title with a six-run win over Punjab Kings in Ahmedabad on Tuesday night, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru are now all set to embark on a jam-packed day of celebrations when they touch down in Bengaluru on Wednesday afternoon. As per a statement issued by the franchise, celebratory events organized to mark the occasion of RCB winning their first-ever IPL title will begin once they arrive at the HAL Airport at 1:30pm, after departing from Ahmedabad at 10am. The side will also meet Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at Vidhana Soudha from 4-5pm. Post the visit to the Chief Minister, RCB’s highly awaited victory parade will begin at approximately 5pm from Vidhana Soudha to M Chinnaswamy Stadium through an open-top bus, which will also see the public in Bengaluru be a part of it on their way to the franchise’s home venue. After this, the celebratory event with fans to celebrate IPL 2025 triumph is slated to begin at M Chinnaswamy Stadium from 6pm onwards. Before Tuesday’s unforgettable championship win, a moment which will be etched in the memories of all RCB fans across the world, the franchise had ended up on the losing side in all three of its previous finals. But at the Narendra Modi Stadium on the night of June 3, talismanic batter Virat Kohli top-scored with 43 off 35 balls as RCB posted an imposing 190/9. In defence of it, RCB’s brilliant bowlers, led by Krunal Pandya’s match-winning spell of 2-17 in four overs, restricted Punjab Kings to 184/7. It meant RCB and Kohli, sporting a number 18 jersey, finally got their hands on the elusive trophy, with more than 91,000 red jersey wearing fans in the stadium along with the side’s loyal supporters in Bengaluru and worldwide kickstarted the noisy long-awaited celebrations of the franchise winning the IPL in its 18th year. .webp) Ahmedabad: Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Virat Kohli celebrates with his wife Anushka Sharma after RCB’s victory in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 final match against Punjab Kings, in Ahmedabad on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (Photo: IANS)A moment stamped in history: Anushka hugs hubby Virat as his RCB registers maiden IPL win A million emotions were running amuck at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad as the IPL team Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) lifted the trophy for the first time in 18 years of the tournament. Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma embraced her husband, the senior RCB player, and modern batting legend Virat Kohli as jitters in the stadium stretched from the pitch to the last row in the stands. After breaking down on field, Virat ran over to his wife, as he hugged her with tears streaming down his face. When it all kicked in, the emotions erupted for him akin to Italy's Mount Etna volcano. Anushka hugged and congratulated her husband. The shutters of the cameras stationed at the stadium went all gun-blazing to capture the moment between the couple, a moment that will put its signature along the dotted line of the history of India's pop-culture, in years to come. For Virat, the moment came a few weeks after he announced his retirement from Test cricket. One can only imagine the sense of accomplishment that must be running through Kohli's mind at the moment. Over the years, RCB has cultivated a loyal fanbase that has stood by the team, game after game, and season after season. With the maiden win coming after almost two decades, it has paid off enormously for them. Incidentally, Anushka and IPL share the debut year. While the first season of IPL took place in the summer of 2008, Anushka made her debut roughly six months later with 'Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi' opposite Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan, whose Kolkata Knight Riders were the defending champions of IPL 2025. Earlier this year in March, team India won the Champions Trophy with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli forming the backbone of the team. It was India's third title win, and Virat's second title win as a part of the team after its 2013 edition. Nearly a year ago, India, again with Virat and Rohit as senior players, won the ICC T20 World Cup in Barbados as the team snatched the victory from the jaws of South Africa. While Virat has been rocking it out on the field, Anushka has been on a sabbatical with her last on-screen appearance being in 2022 in 'Qala', where she was seen in a cameo appearance, and a full-fledged role back in 2018 release 'Zero'. The actress was set to make her return on the silver screen with 'Chakda 'Xpress', based on India's lead pacer Jhulan Goswami. However, the future of the film seems bleak, as there are no reports of its release in theatres.  Ahmedabad: Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Virat Kohli celebrates with the trophy after his team’s victory in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 final match against Punjab Kings, in Ahmedabad on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (Photo: IANS/Biplab Banerjee)Vijay Mallya leads wave of reactions as RCB end IPL title drought The long wait is finally over—and no one felt the emotions more than Vijay Mallya, the first owner of the Bengaluru franchise. As Royal Challengers Bengaluru lifted their maiden IPL trophy after 18 years of heartbreak and hope, the former RCB owner led the wave of congratulatory messages that poured in from across the cricketing world. “RCB are IPL Champions finally after 18 years,” Mallya posted on X (formerly Twitter). “Superb campaign right through the 2025 tournament. A well-balanced team Playing Bold with outstanding coaching and support staff. Many congratulations! Ee sala cup namde!!” It was a moment that brought together generations of RCB fans and stakeholders, past and present. And the rest of the IPL fraternity stood in unison to applaud the team’s hard-earned glory. Mumbai Indians, five-time champions, hailed the effort: “Congratulations to the NEW #TATAIPL Champions, @RCBTweets. A strong & memorable campaign.” Sunrisers Hyderabad, who themselves have tasted title success in the past, acknowledged RCB’s tenacity: “Congratulations on an outstanding season and a well-earned title, @RCBTweets.” Chennai Super Kings, RCB’s fiercest rivals, also put rivalry aside to share in the moment: “Congratulations, @RCBTweets! #IPL2025Final #WhistlePodu .” The message that perhaps captured the emotions of millions of fans came from Kolkata Knight Riders: “EE SALA CUP NIMDE, CONGRATULATIONS.” Even Delhi Capitals, Rajasthan Royals, and Lucknow Super Giants joined in, sharing stories, memes, and emotional posts celebrating the end of the title curse. While the cricketing fraternity celebrated RCB’s victory, the occasion held deeply personal significance for Virat Kohli. As the team held on to win by six runs against Punjab Kings in a nerve-wracking final, Kohli dropped to his knees in tears. It was a fitting image of loyalty rewarded—after 18 years, three heartbreak losses in finals, and countless sacrifices, the talismanic batter had finally tasted IPL glory. The journey to the title was far from smooth. RCB lost early wickets in the final, but vital partnerships—particularly between Kohli and Mayank Agarwal—ensured a fighting total of 190. Their bowlers, led by Krunal Pandya’s clutch spell of 2/17 and Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s nerveless death bowling, brought the cup home. Despite a valiant 61* off 30 balls from Punjab’s Shashank Singh, RCB held their nerve. The final over drama only made the triumph sweeter. The title win united past legends, rival franchises, and fans from across the globe in celebration. After years of taunts, memes, and near-misses, Royal Challengers Bengaluru are no longer titleless. The script has flipped, the wait is over, and the roar of “Ee Sala Cup Namdu” now echoes in reality, not just hope.  Ahmedabad: Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Krunal Pandya celebrates with his wife and children while posing with the winner’s trophy after the team’s victory in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 final match against Punjab Kings, in Ahmedabad on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (Photo: IANS)Tears, triumph & tight hugs: Kohli embraces Anushka, ABD, Gayle after RCB's maiden IPL win After 18 seasons filled with heartbreaks, near misses, and unwavering belief, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) finally etched their name in IPL history, clinching their maiden Indian Premier League title. The franchise edged out Punjab Kings by six runs in a thrilling IPL 2025 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium, sending fans into wild celebration—and leaving Virat Kohli in tears. At the heart of RCB’s long-awaited triumph stood Kohli, the soul of the team since its inception in 2008. Though his 35-ball 43 anchored RCB's innings, it was the post-match scenes that truly defined the night. The moment the final ball was hit and victory sealed, Kohli collapsed to the ground, overcome with emotion. Moments later, he was enveloped in tight, tearful hugs—first by his wife, actor Anushka Sharma, and then by his former teammate and close friend, AB de Villiers, who had flown in to witness the historic moment. "What ABD has done for the franchise is tremendous, told him 'this win is as much yours as it is ours. I want you to celebrate with us'. He's been the POTM most times in the franchise despite being retired for four years. Tells you the impact he's had on the league, team and me. He deserves to be on the podium, lifting the cup." The trio’s embrace was more than just celebration—it was a culmination of years of dedication, heartbreak, and resilience. De Villiers, who retired in 2021, had stood beside Kohli through RCB’s toughest phases. Watching the team lift the trophy brought a deeply personal sense of closure. “It’s not just a title. It’s 18 years of belief, of commitment, of giving everything,” Kohli reflected after the match. With the weight of history finally lifted, RCB and Kohli now have the fairytale ending they had been chasing for nearly two decades—surrounded by those who mattered most. The wait is over. The dream is real. The cup is home. IPL 2025 IPL 2025: Meeting with CM, Open-top bus parade, celebration at Chinnaswamy headline RCB’s victory celebrations | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com |
