‘My heart, my soul is with Bengaluru’: Emotional Virat Kohli after RCB lifts maiden IPL title after 17 years; city lights up in celebration

NEW DELHI: A visibly emotional Virat Kohli summed up 17 years of loyalty, heartbreak and unrelenting passion with one line: “My heart is with Bangalore, my soul is with Bangalore.” The statement, made moments after Royal Challengers Bengaluru clinched their first IPL title on Tuesday night, not only echoed across the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad but struck a chord with lakhs of fans across Karnataka — who had waited nearly two decades for this night.

Even before the final ball was bowled, Bengaluru had erupted. From Church Street to RR Nagar, fireworks lit up the sky as fans danced on streets, coloured in red and gold.


In Marathahalli, Indiranagar, Whitefield and beyond, ‘Ee Sala Cup Namde’ turned from an often-mocked slogan into an emotion realised.

As RCB players formed a huddle and celebrated the 6-run win over Punjab Kings, Kohli — teary-eyed — looked up and soaked it in. “I’ve given this team my youth, prime and experience. I’ve tried to win it every season and gave it everything I have,” he said, standing alongside fellow RCB legends AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle. “I stayed loyal to this team. I had moments otherwise, but I stayed with them and they stayed with me.”

While Kohli’s 657 runs were vital, RCB’s victory was built on collective grit. The turnaround was steered by head coach Andy Flower, cricket director Mo Bobat and mentor Dinesh Karthik, with the focus shifting from marquee names to performers. From Josh Hazlewood’s 22 wickets to Krunal Pandya’s tight spell (2/17) on the big night, RCB finally ticked all the boxes.

RCB, long seen as a team brimming with potential but falling short at crucial junctures, had become synonymous with unfulfilled promise. Despite superstars in their ranks over the years, an IPL title remained elusive — until now. On a balmy night with 91,000-plus in attendance, the wait ended, and with it, Kohli’s own quest for silverware with the team he never left.

As the confetti rained down and Kohli hugged every teammate like family, one thing was clear: this wasn’t just a title win. It was redemption, loyalty, and closure — all rolled into one.