After 18 seasons filled with heartbreaks, near misses, and unwavering belief, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) finally clinched their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title on Tuesday (June 3).
RCB edged out Punjab Kings (PBKS) by six runs in a thrilling IPL 2025 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium, sending fans into a frenzy of celebration.
The triumph also left Virat Kohli in tears. After the historic win, the RCB talisman emotionally thanked wife Anushka Sharma for her constant support.
Kohli mentioned that Anushka, who hails from Bengaluru, would find this victory just as meaningful as every passionate RCB fan.
“She has stood by me through thick and thin – 100 percent. She's been coming here, supporting RCB since 2014. So it’s been 11 years for her as well – relentlessly turning up for games, watching the tough ones, watching us just miss out,” Kohli said while speaking on JioStar.
“What your life partner does to allow you to play the game – the sacrifices, the commitment, the constant support – it’s something that words can’t truly capture. Only when you play professionally do you understand what goes on behind the scenes, and what they go through as well.
“Anushka has seen me at my lowest, been through all the ups and downs with me. She's felt it all – the pain, the near misses. She’s deeply connected to Bengaluru. She’s a Bangalore girl too, and her bond with RCB is strong.
“So this is incredibly special for her as well. She’s going to be so, so proud.”
Anushka Sharma was in attendance at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Tuesday, cheering for RCB, hoping to finally be on the winning side.
As RCB successfully defended a total of 190 against PBKS, Anushka was left overjoyed. She also embraced Kohli emotionally after the victory.
Coming to the match, RCB posted 190/9 on the board after being asked to bat first in the summit clash. While Virat Kohli was the top scorer with 35-ball 43, the likes of Rajat Patidar (26 off 16), Liam Livingstone (25 off 15) and Jitesh Sharma (24 off 10) made valuable contributions with the bat.
Defending the total, Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2-38 in 4 overs) and Krunal Pandya (2-17 in 4 overs) bowled magical spells to stop PBKS at 184/7 in 20 overs.
