The Voice News : After an 18-year-long wait, Royal Challengers Bengaluru have finally lifted the IPL trophy. Since the league’s inception in 2008, Virat Kohli’s team was often counted among the favorites, but heartbreak followed season after season. Even after reaching the final three times previously, they had never managed to clinch the title.
This time, history changed. Bengaluru beat Punjab Kings by a narrow margin of 6 runs to secure their first-ever IPL championship title.
Former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was present at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad to witness Virat Kohli finally lift the coveted trophy. Alongside him were former RCB legends AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle. Their presence was not in vain—Bengaluru are now champions.
After losing the toss and being sent to bat first, Royal Challengers Bengaluru posted a total of 190 runs for the loss of 9 wickets. In response, Punjab Kings were restricted to 184 runs.
This was the second IPL final appearance for Punjab Kings, but once again, they failed to clinch the title. Chasing 191, Punjab’s slow start with the bat proved costly. Though Shashank Singh played a responsible and explosive knock towards the end, a lack of support from the other end meant Punjab fell short.
Needing 29 runs off the final over, Shashank Singh hit Josh Hazlewood for 22 runs in the last four balls. Had the first two deliveries not been dot balls, Punjab might have pulled off a miraculous win. Despite his heroic efforts, Shashank couldn’t take them over the line.
In the run chase, the Punjab openers were sluggish. Priyans Arya scored 24 runs off 19 balls, while Prabhsimran Singh made 26 off 22. Josh Inglis contributed 39 from 23 deliveries. Skipper Shreyas Iyer was a major disappointment, dismissed for just 1 run. Nehal Wadhera made 15 off 18 balls.
Marcus Stoinis hit a six on his very first delivery, but got out on the second ball, caught at third man. Azmatullah Omarzai was dismissed for 1. Kyle Jamieson remained not out after facing two balls. Shashank Singh remained unbeaten on 61 off 30 balls, hitting 3 fours and 6 sixes in his valiant effort.
Krunal Pandya, who took 2 wickets for 17 runs, was named the Player of the Final.
Earlier, after being put in to bat, Bengaluru scored 190 runs for 9 wickets. Virat Kohli was the top scorer with 43 runs.