Virat Kohli Celebrates RCB's Historic IPL Triumph: “18 Years, But Worth Every Moment”

 In a moment of immense pride and emotion, Virat Kohli took to social media to celebrate Royal Challengers Bengaluru's long-awaited victory in the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL). The triumph marked RCB’s first-ever IPL title, secured after 18 seasons of perseverance, near-misses, and unwavering fan support.

Posting on Instagram, Kohli reflected on the significance of the win:
“This team made the dream possible. A season I’ll never forget. We’ve thoroughly enjoyed the ride over the last two and a half months. This one is for the RCB fans who stood by us through the darkest times—for all the heartbreaks and disappointments. This is for every ounce of effort left on the field playing for this team. As for the IPL trophy—you made me wait 18 years, but my friend, it’s been absolutely worth the wait.”

Following the historic win, Kohli, 36, spoke candidly about the personal investment he had made in the franchise since its inception in 2008.
“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.”

RCB clinched the title with a narrow six-run victory over Punjab Kings in Ahmedabad, bringing to an end an 18-season drought. Kohli, who has featured in every RCB campaign and was part of three previous finals (2009, 2011, and 2016), dropped to the ground in a rare moment of raw emotion before being embraced by jubilant teammates.

Despite the occasion, Kohli reaffirmed his deep reverence for Test cricket:
“This is among the best moments of my career—but it still ranks five levels below Test cricket. That’s how much I value and love the longest format of the game.” He also issued a heartfelt message to the next generation of cricketers: “If you want to earn genuine respect in world cricket, take up Test cricket and give it your heart and soul.”

A pillar of consistency this season, Kohli amassed 657 runs across 15 innings, including eight half-centuries. Often taking on the anchor role as an opener, he played a crucial part in RCB's championship run.

Looking ahead, Kohli acknowledged that the end of his playing career may not be far off.
“I have the opportunity to play this game for only a few more years. There’s an end date to every career. When that time comes, I want to sit back and say I gave it everything I had.”
“Tonight,” he concluded with a smile, “I’ll sleep like a baby.”