Virat Kohli dedicated Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s historic first IPL title to former teammates AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle, paying tribute to their commitment and heartbreak during the team’s long journey to glory.
RCB edged Punjab Kings by six runs in a dramatic final in Ahmedabad on Tuesday, sealing their first championship in 17 seasons. The emotional victory brought tears to the eyes of 36-year-old Kohli, who has been with the franchise since the league’s inception in 2008.
Reflecting on the moment, Kohli honoured de Villiers and Gayle — two of RCB’s biggest icons — who were part of several near-title runs but never managed to clinch the trophy during their time with the team.
“I’ve shared my prime years with them, and I know how much we tried to win this,” Kohli said after the match. “We felt so close on multiple occasions. We had the explosiveness, the talent — but we just couldn’t cross the line. That hurt stayed with all of us.”
De Villiers, who played for RCB from 2011 to 2021, and Gayle, who starred from 2011 to 2017, joined Kohli on the podium to celebrate the long-overdue triumph.
“This title feels ten times more special because they’re here,” Kohli said. “Honestly, it’s as much theirs as it is mine.”
He emphasized the deep bond the trio shared with the franchise and the fans: “When AB and Chris come to Bengaluru, people go absolutely berserk. That love, that connection — it’s because they gave everything they had for this team.”
With the long wait finally over, RCB’s title win stands not just as a triumph for the current squad, but as a tribute to the foundation laid by legends who came before.
