India, June 3 -- It took 18 years, but it finally happened. Jersey No.18 finally got his hands on the coveted Indian Premier League trophy after Royal Challengers Bengaluru defeated Punjab Kings by six runs in the 2025 final at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium. The 36-year-old Virat Kohli, who has been performing season after season and was often left heartbroken as RCB crashed and burned several times in the past, finally became an IPL champion.

After coming close in 2009, 2011, and 2016, the story was completely different in 2025. Unlike previous seasons, RCB put in a completely rounded team performance. The change in strategy paid off, and RCB has a trophy to show in its cabinet for that. There was no overdependence on Kohli in the 1...