India, June 4 -- At the 'best' of times, Bengaluru's traffic is an unmitigated disaster, compounded by slabs of asphalt around gaping potholes. This was better than the best of times; a 17-year itch had finally been scratched, Royal Challengers Bengaluru had, at long last, reached the Promised Land.

In the immediacy of RCB wrapping their collective hands around the Indian Premier League trophy for the first time on Tuesday night, life in the one-time Garden City came to an absolute standstill. Vast stretches of some of the most iconic thoroughfares were swamped by thousands who came out to express their appreciation at their heroes' tryst with glory. Vehicular movement was non-existent, but there was none of the usual impatience, no angr...