New Delhi, June 4 -- Delayed but not denied. God's plan is bigger than yours. Several cliched and tired quotes used during times of hardships, failures and rejections that could either give a person optimism or just add to irritability. But it all perhaps made sense for star Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Virat Kohli, who finally lifted the Indian Premier League (IPL) title after 18 long years, living through a 2020s decade that has been challenging and fulfilling in equal parts.

From that night of September 8, 2022 when an all-out assault on Afghanistan bowling during an Asia Cup dead rubber brought him his much-anticipated 71st international ton after over 1,000 days to a tense, tearful and joyous IPL final against Punjab Kings (PBK...