Virat Kohli, whose international trophy haul is among the finest in modern cricket, is now just one win away from finally adding an Indian Premier League (IPL) title to his name. His long-time franchise, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), will face Punjab Kings in the final on Tuesday.
The 36-year-old batting icon has been with RCB since the league’s inaugural season in 2008 and captained the team through nine seasons, guiding them to the final in 2009, 2011, and 2016 — only to fall short each time.
This season, however, under the leadership of Rajat Patidar, RCB have transformed into a well-rounded and dangerous outfit. They won all seven of their away matches during the group stage and thrashed Punjab in the first qualifier.
Kohli, once again, has led with the bat and is RCB’s top run-scorer in the tournament. But unlike previous campaigns, RCB’s success hasn’t rested solely on a few big names.
“It’s a much better balanced team,” former Australia cricketer and IPL coach Tom Moody told ESPNcricinfo. “It’s not just about the top three anymore. Others are stepping up and having a real impact — something that was missing in previous years.”
The return of pace spearhead Josh Hazlewood from a shoulder injury further strengthened the side. His immediate impact was evident as Bengaluru skittled Punjab for just 101 in the qualifier.
Despite that defeat, Punjab clawed their way back to set up a rematch in the final by defeating Mumbai Indians in Sunday’s second qualifier at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium.
Captain Shreyas Iyer, who led Kolkata Knight Riders to the title last year, has been instrumental in Punjab’s campaign and is their leading run-scorer. His unbeaten 78 against Mumbai was a composed, captain’s knock that guided Punjab into their first final.
“I love big occasions,” Iyer said after the match. “The bigger the moment, the calmer you have to be — that’s how you deliver your best. Today I just focused on breathing and staying relaxed.”
Backed by coach Ricky Ponting, Iyer has instilled a fearless mentality in the team. Now, both he and Kohli will go head-to-head, each hoping to lift the trophy — Kohli for the first time in his career, and Iyer for a second consecutive year with different teams.
