RCB’s new era, Virat Kohli’s old magic: Defending champions edge Gujarat Titans in IPL final

TimesofIndia.com in Ahmedabad: Virat Kohli never knew how to hide his emotions. He wears them proudly, on his sleeve and often on his face. On Sunday night, under the lights of a packed Narendra Modi Stadium, there wasn’t a single moment when he wasn’t completely invested in the occasion.Even before the first ball was bowled, Kohli’s intensity was unmistakable. As the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) players gathered in a huddle, Kohli dropped to his knees, surrounded by his teammates, and gave an animated pep talk in his trademark style. Every gesture had a purpose. Every word carried faith. From that moment he looked like a man possessed. He celebrated every Gujarat Titans (GT) wicket as if it was a winning moment. Each dot elicited a roar. Every breakthrough brought clenched fists and unfiltered passion. And with more than 90,000 spectators chanting “Kohli, Kohli” in unison, the man who built his career on the rise to the biggest stages once again embraced the spotlight.Chasing a modest target of 156 in the IPL final, RCB ran out of the blocks before losing some quick wickets. It was a moment that has haunted the franchise in the past. It was also a moment that could reopen old scars for Kohli, who saw more than just his heartbreak in the IPL final.This time, however, he wasn’t ready to let the story slip.Kohli, calm amid the chaos, paced the chase with the confidence of a man who has lived through every possible cricketing scenario. The greatest chase master the game has seen took control and steered RCB to a second consecutive IPL title with an impressive, unbeaten innings of 75 runs. It was fitting that the winning six also came from Kohli’s willow.RCB beat GT by five wickets. Such was RCB’s dominance that they won the match with 20 balls to spare. Rajat Patidar also became only the third captain to win back-to-back IPL titles after MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma.Earlier, RCB’s pace battery produced a clinical bowling performance that restricted GT to 155 for 8.After opting to bowl, Rajat Patidar’s side executed their plans perfectly, relentlessly hitting hard lengths and denying the hosts any momentum. Shubman Gill (10) and Sai Sudharsan (12) showed early spark but fell to Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar in quick succession.Nishant Sindhu’s promotion to No.3 didn’t pay off as Rasikh Salam Dar removed him for 20, while Jos Buttler never looked comfortable during his 23-ball 19 and Krunal Pandya outwitted him with all his experience.RCB’s grip never eased. Hazlewood trapped Arshad Khan with another short-ball trick while Rasikh finished as the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 27. Bhuvneshwar and Hazlewood took two wickets each.Washington Sundar’s unbeaten 50 off 37 balls gave GT something to defend but 155 for 8 looked well below par against a formidable RCB side chasing a second straight IPL title.Over the years, RCB have often been defined by Kohli. They had cricket’s biggest superstar but struggled to build an identity to match his unrelenting standards. The season began with hope and anticipation before fizzling out when it mattered most. Even after Kohli stepped down as captain, the pattern remained largely unchanged.Everything changed in 2025.RCB took a bold call by handing over the captaincy to Rajat Patidar and ended an 18-year wait for an IPL trophy. Sometimes the title changes the team. Sometimes it unlocks beliefs that cannot be learned. Sometimes it takes a title for the team to unlock the beast within. That seems to be exactly what happened with this Rajat Patidar-led RCB side.Unbeaten in Guwahati, where Vaibhav Suryavanshi produced a breathtaking masterclass, RCB have looked virtually unstoppable this season. They attacked with the bat, hunted in the pack with the ball and carried an aura that few teams could match.Without an iota of doubt they are the most complete side in the competition. Every base seems to be covered. Each player understands their role. And it’s fitting that they now play with the same aggression, conviction and fearlessness that defined the franchise’s greatest cricketer.Virat Kohli may not be the captain of RCB anymore but his spirit runs through this team. It was impossible not to see it on the biggest night of the season.Brief scores: GT: 155/8: (Washington Sundar 50*, Nishant Sindhu 20, Rasikh Salam 3/27) lost to RCB: 161/5 in 18 overs (Virat Kohli 75*, Venkatesh Iyer 32, Rashid Khan 2/25).