Jammu, June 4 -- Seventeen seasons came and went. Teammates changed, coaches changed, but one thing remained constant: Virat Kohli giving his all for Royal Challengers Bengaluru-and the IPL title eluding him. Year after year, he turned up, driven by belief, loyalty, and passion. He carried the team on his shoulders, broke records, set new standards, but the silverware stayed out of reach.

On Tuesday night at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, that chapter closed. Punjab Kings fell seven runs short of chasing 191, and RCB, at long last, became IPL champions. Before the final ball was bowled, Kohli dropped to his knees at the boundary, tears flowing. The weight of 18 years lifted in that one moment.

For Kohli, for RCB, and for millio...