Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru retained their IPL crown with a 5-wicket victory over Gujarat Titans in Sunday’s final.
RCB restricted GT to 155/8 courtesy of Rashik Salam’s three-wicket haul before Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 75 guided RCB to the target in style. The chase master revealed that scoring the winning runs to put RCB in elite company was stuff dreams are made of.
“It’s stuff that you dream of. Thought of this moment many times, to win the IPL and stand here.”
“Such is the demand of the sport today. You have these young players pushing you hard and asking you to get better,” he added.
“You need to get those 20-30 runs extra. I had to change my mindset, not so much by game, to get those runs.”
“Tha target was to finish top of
the table. A lot of people asked who we would prefer to play in the play. But we didn’t care of the jersey in front of us.”
Kohli paid tribute to the side’s passionate fanbase and called for them to enjoy the period of success that they have found after a prolonged time of wait.
“I always say that we don’t have just 7 home games we have 14. GT are the home team here but probably 90% are RCB fans,” he said.
RCB seamer Josh Hazlewood struck early, sending back GT captain Shubman Gill for 10 off 8, before Bhuvneshwar Kumar tightened the screws by removing Sai Sudharsan, who made a run-a-ball 12.
Nishant Sindhu was next to go for 20 off 18, dismissed by Rashik Salam, and Krunal Pandya then outfoxed Jos Buttler, ending the Englishman’s stay at 19 off 23.
Washington Sundar earned a reprieve when Joson Cox’s catch was overturned, and he made it count with a couple of boundaries. Arshad Khan contributed with two sixes as well, but Hazlewood returned to send the youngster back, leaving GT five down before they could reach 100.
Rashik struck once more, sending Rahul Tewatia back for 7 off 5, and Bhuvneshwar returned to dismiss Jason Holder, who had scored a steady run-a-ball. Salam completed his three-wicket haul by removing Rashid Khan for 7 off 3, while Sundar held the innings together with an unbeaten 50, guiding GT to 155/8.
RCB’s reply got off to a flying start as Venkatesh Iyer and Virat Kohli hammered a 62-run opening stand inside 5 overs, putting GT’s bowlers under immediate pressure.
Iyer fell to Mohammed Siraj for a brisk 32 off 16, and Kagiso Rabada soon sent back Devdutt Padikkal for just 1 off 4. Skipper Rajat Patidar joined Kohli and added 15 off 13 before Rashid Khan removed the RCB captain. The Afghan spinner struck again shortly after, dismissing Krunal for 1 off 2, but Tim David then partnered Kohli in a vital 41-run stand, during which Kohli reached yet another half-century.
David was caught behind off Arshad Khan, leaving Jitesh Sharma to come in and complete the chase, which RCB sealed with 12 balls to spare, becoming only the third side, after Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians, to successfully defend their IPL title.
