<\/p>\n
Virat Kohli waited nearly two decades for his first IPL title. Now? He\u2019s got two. At 37, he\u2019s still working on his game, still hungry, and he just hammered the fastest T20 half-century of his career\u2014right when it mattered most, with the winning runs in RCB\u2019s title run-chase. That unbeaten 75 was the bedrock of RCB\u2019s second IPL title. And Kohli\u2019s face said it all\u2014pure, unapologetic joy, because RCB just steamrolled the competition all season.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is what you dream about,\u201d Kohli said right after the match, beaming at the presentation. He couldn\u2019t help adding that hitting the winning run was a moment he\u2019d pictured in his head a thousand times over his career.<\/p>\n
But there\u2019s more going on behind his performance. He even gave a little nod to 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi\u2014one of those young guns who, somehow, pushed Kohli to tweak his game this season.<\/p>\n
When people asked about his 25-ball half-century, Kohli just laughed at first. \u201cLook at these super young players\u2014they\u2019re making me step it up,\u201d he joked. But no one missed the edge in his voice. He meant it. \u201cI had to change my mindset\u2014just attack the bowlers, find those extra runs,\u201d he said. Players like Sooryavanshi forced him to evolve at 37, even when he didn\u2019t have to change his basics. That fire doesn\u2019t burn out easily.<\/p>\n
And really, for once, it wasn\u2019t all about Kohli. That\u2019s what pleased him most. During the first 10 games, eight different players took home Man of the Match awards. It\u2019s not all resting on his shoulders anymore. \u201cIt\u2019s a relief, honestly,\u201d he admitted. \u201cFeels good knowing I don\u2019t have to be the guy every single time. This season, anyone can step up and win it for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
He rattled off names\u2014Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar, Duffy, Krunal Pandya, Rasikh Dar\u2014guys who\u2019ve all delivered. He credited the RCB management for putting together a balanced team these last two years. \u201cI feel relaxed when I walk out now. No panic\u2014everyone knows what to do, especially in a chase.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kohli also made it clear that this RCB team doesn\u2019t get caught up in rivalries or sledging. \u201cWe just wanted to finish top. Didn\u2019t matter what jersey the opposition had on,\u201d he said. \u201cWe respect everyone, but we don\u2019t poke anyone. We\u2019re a bunch of mature professionals, and we let our experience show.\u201d<\/p>\n
And when the big matches came, Kohli and the other \u2018big boys\u2019 knew what to do. \u201cDuring a chase, I knew they\u2019d come for my wicket. But with this team, we could\u2019ve finished it with a few overs to spare.\u201d He still remembers RCB\u2019s Director of Cricket, Mo Bobat, setting the tone after their first title in 2025: this wasn\u2019t the end\u2014get back-to-back wins. Before this final, Kohli told Venkatesh Iyer, \u201cLet\u2019s kill the game in the powerplay. That\u2019s the plan.\u201d It worked.<\/p>\n
He praised the group for being balanced in every department\u2014batting, bowling, and fielding. \u201cIt\u2019s just different this year. There wasn\u2019t any of the pressure we felt last season. Topping the table wasn\u2019t an accident, it came from real skill and composure. We stuck to our cricket, executed our plans, and led the competition from start to finish.\u201d<\/p>\n
RCB did get tested, especially after a break in the season. They lost once, the match after the break, then scraped out a close win over Mumbai Indians in Raipur. Kohli said that week was tricky\u2014they desperately wanted to finish top. \u201cBut after that MI win, the belief just came back. We crushed KKR next, topped the table, and never looked back.\u201d<\/p>\n
And about the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium? It might\u2019ve been Gujarat Titans\u2019 home ground, but the crowd belonged to RCB. Kohli couldn\u2019t stop smiling. \u201cFeels like we have 14 home games, not seven. Our fans are incredible\u201490% of them were on our side, even in Ahmedabad. I\u2019m just grateful. Winning for them\u2014it\u2019s the best feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n