NEW DELHI: The long wait is finally over — and no one felt the moment more than Vijay Mallya, the first-ever owner of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). As the team lifted its maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) trophy after 18 years of heartbreak, Mallya led a flood of emotional tributes from fans and cricketing greats across the world.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“RCB are IPL Champions finally after 18 years,” Mallya posted on X. “Superb campaign right through the 2025 tournament. A well-balanced team Playing Bold with outstanding coaching and support staff. Many congratulations! Ee sala cup namde!!”
The words struck a nostalgic chord with long-time fans who have stood by the team through highs and mostly lows. Mallya, who owned the franchise during its formative years, had overseen iconic player signings and RCB's early struggles — including three painful final defeats in 2009, 2011, and 2016. His post captured the raw emotion of finally seeing RCB cross the finish line.
It wasn’t just Mallya. The entire IPL fraternity stood united in applauding RCB’s long-awaited triumph.
- Mumbai Indians, five-time champions, posted: “Congratulations to the NEW #TATAIPL Champions, @RCBTweets. A strong & memorable campaign.”
- Chennai Super Kings, known for their fierce rivalry with RCB, also shared their respect: “Congratulations, @RCBTweets! #IPL2025Final #WhistlePodu.”
- Kolkata Knight Riders summed it up best: “EE SALA CUP NIMDE, CONGRATULATIONS.”
Even Sunrisers Hyderabad, Delhi Capitals, Lucknow Super Giants, and Rajasthan Royals joined in, celebrating the emotional breakthrough on social media with messages, videos, and memes.
Virat Kohli (IPL Photo)
But for Virat Kohli, the moment was personal. The RCB talisman, who’s carried the team’s hopes for nearly two decades, dropped to his knees in tears after the 6-run win over Punjab Kings. The image of Kohli overwhelmed with emotion perfectly symbolised the end of an era of waiting — and the beginning of a legacy fulfilled.
The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the ...
Read MoreThe TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide.
From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more.
The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics.
We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects.
We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.
Read Less