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Indian Express
05-06-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
‘I have to do two times better than what I have done': Vaibhav Suryavanshi on his targets in next year's IPL
14-year-old batting prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who became the second fastest centurion in IPL history in the recently concluded season, said that next year, he wants to contribute two times better for Rajasthan Royals. The 35-ball century also helped him become the youngest T20 centurion in men's T20 cricket at 14 years and 32 days. 'Playing in the IPL is like a dream for everyone and I got a lot of positives from my first season and I also learnt a lot in terms of what I can do for the team in the next season,' Suryavanshi said in a video shared by IPL's official website. 'Next year, I will work on areas where I made mistakes and try to do much better for the team,' he added. Debut #TATAIPL 🤩Learnings for the future 🙌Being part of India U19 squad for Tour of England ✨ Vaibhav Suryavanshi, the rising talent, opens up after a successful season WATCH 🎥🔽 #Final | #TheLastMile | @rajasthanroyalshttps:// — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) June 5, 2025 The youngster, who was one of the bright sparks in Rajasthan Royals season this year, was given the IPL Super Striker of the Season award after the final between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings. 'My learning is that I have to do two times better than what I have done so that my team also plays in the final next year and how much I can contribute to my team, I will focus on that.' Given his exploits, Suryavanshi was also named in the India Under-19 squad for a multi-format tour of England along with Mumbai's Ayush Mhatre, who made a successful debut for Chennai Super Kings. 'It is a new tournament. I am going to the UK for the first time so it will be a new experience. I will experience how the game goes on there,' Suryavanshi said. 'Ayush Mhatre, who played for Chennai Super Kings this time, is our captain. The preparations are going well and it will be a good experience of playing in England and will try to return with the trophy,' he added.
India Today
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Virat Kohli's stirring IPL victory speech was worth the 18-year wait
Seventeen IPL seasons passed, yet the one thing Virat Kohli never had was a title. The tournament kept him waiting, year after year, even as he gave it everything. He turned up each season, unflinching, driven, relentless. He piled on the runs, carried teams on his shoulders, but the trophy remained just out of reach. 17 years had passed. Teammates came and went. Contemporaries celebrated title after title. Yet Kohli stood alone, unmatched in stature but untouched by the moment finally arrived, it broke through every wall he had built around himself. Before the final delivery of the IPL 2025 final between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Tuesday, Kohli, standing along the boundary rope, dropped to his knees, tears streaming down his cheeks. He knew. The wait was is a harsh word in sport, but RCB had lived with it for far too long. They were meme fodder, the punchline of every IPL joke. Kohli, who holds himself to impossible standards, had even learnt to laugh at the team's misfortune. But deep down, the drought hurt. It was, until Tuesday night, one of the most talked-about and ridiculed title waits in cricket. No more. IPL 2025 final: HighlightsFor RCB fans, watching Virat Kohli celebrate -- with his teammates, with the woman he loves, with a former teammate he reveres -- must have been cathartic. Even the neutrals must have felt a lump in the throat as scenes of unfiltered joy unfolded at the Narendra Modi Stadium, after Punjab Kings fell seven runs short of chasing a target of Roars. JubilationThe emotions of #RCB were raw, real, and 18 years in the making #TATAIPL | #RCBvPBKS | #Final | #TheLastMile | @RCBTweets IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) June 3, 2025advertisementAnd then came the speech(es). On a night like this, words are often hard to find. But not for Kohli. They flowed with the same ease as the 8,661 runs he had scored across eighteen seasons - fluent and full of feeling. His voice carried the weight of the years, the near-misses, the heartbreaks, and the unwavering belief that this day would was as if the speech had been living in him since the day he first wore RCB colours. Only the stage had kept him waiting. On Tuesday, he finally had it and he rose to the OF RED"This win is as much for the fans as it is for the team. It's been 18 long years," Kohli told the broadcasters JioStar, a sea of red roaring behind him."I've given this team my youth, my prime, and my experience. I've tried to win this every season that I come, and I give it everything I have. And to finally have this moment come, it's an unbelievable feeling. I never thought this day would come," said the man who was fourth-time lucky on DELIGHT Virat Kohli had made a promise - and delivered. His close friend, AB de Villiers, had flown in to witness the end of the drought he too had endured. Kohli dedicated the trophy to him, inviting him onto the stage to share the moment of I mean, what he has done for this franchise is absolutely tremendous, and I told him that before the game as well. 'This one is as much yours as it is ours, and I want you to celebrate with us when we lift that trophy by the end of the night', because what he's done for RCB is so very special," he de Villiers stood on the podium beside Kohli, their joy mingling in one of the most heartwarming scenes in IPL history. AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle joined Virat Kohli on the podium in Ahmedabad (AP Photo) LOYALTY AND HEARTKohli then spoke of loyalty - a rare and precious currency in franchise-based sporting tournaments. Since the IPL's inaugural season, he has been synonymous with RCB, steadfast through thick and thin, buoyed by a loyal fanbase to whom he tipped his stayed loyal to the team, no matter what. I've had moments when I thought otherwise, but I stuck to the team. I stood behind them, they stood behind me, and I always dreamt of winning it with them."And this is far more special than winning it with anyone else, because my heart is with Bangalore. My soul is with Bangalore. And as I said, this is the team I'm going to play for till the last day that I play the IPL," he LOVE FOR TESTSOnly minutes after clinching the biggest prize in the biggest franchise cricket tournament on the planet, the icon of modern cricket paused to remind the next generation of the game's deepest roots - the Test format - from which he had recently stepped away."You know, this moment is right up there with the best moments I've had in my career. When it still marks five levels under Test, that's how much I value Test, and that's how much I love Tests."So I would just urge the youngsters coming through to treat that format with respect, because if you perform in Test cricket, you walk around anywhere in the world, people look you in the eye, shake your hand, and say, 'Well done, you play the game really well.'advertisement"So if you want to be respected in world cricket all over, take to Test cricket, give your heart and soul to it," he CHAMPIONSKohli made sure to honor the unseen heroes behind the scenes, whose meticulous planning, steadfast belief, and relentless toil from the mega auction right through to the final delivery made this victory had long been known as a team of superstars. But in 2025, they felt different - sharper, smarter, and more united. With some of the brightest minds in coaching - Andy Flower, Dinesh Karthik, and Director of Cricket Mo Babat - the team crafted a new strategy at the auction. They didn't chase big names. Instead, they filled gaps, buying an aggressive opener who eased Kohli's burden, finishers who could seal games, and a bowling unit packed with champions. They built an effective unit, not a constellation of stars."This management, this group of players, has been outstanding, to be honest."They've got the right kind of players, match-winners, people who take the game on. In the auction, a lot of people questioned our tactics, but by day two, we were very happy with what we had, and we had a lot of confidence in the strength of this group. I want to give a big shout-out to this team; this would not have been possible without each and every one in the playing eleven," he BENGALURU GIRL Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma celebrate RCB's IPL 2025 triumph (AP Photo) Kohli paused to thank Anushka Sharma for standing by him through every high and low - a steadfast pillar of strength and love. He assured the crowd that the 'Bengaluru girl' in her would be as thrilled as he was to see RCB's long wait finally end."Anushka has seen me at my lowest, been through all the ups and downs with me. She's felt it all - the pain, the near misses."She's deeply connected to Bengaluru. She's a Bangalore girl too, and her bond with RCB is strong."So this is incredibly special for her as well. She's going to be so, so proud."THE PARTY IN THE CITY Kohli seemed eager to return to the garden city, where celebrations exploded in every corner. Fireworks lit the sky, chants echoed in the streets, tears of joy mingled with songs and dance - Bengaluru bathed in red long into the promised his beloved 'Royal Loyals' that the joy was just beginning."The city is waiting. My god. I'm thinking about them. Imagine what the fans must be feeling now, poor ones. Someone sent me a video - the entire city is filled with fireworks. The whole city. It's very special. I can't express my feelings. I have to experience it," Kohli said, confirming that there would be a victory parade in Bengaluru on Bengaluru! And good night! Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) June 3, 2025FORGED IN FIREReflecting on the long, painful journey, Kohli acknowledged the hardships, the ridicule and the trolls that were all part of the story that forged unbreakable bonds."I've taken a lot of stress. I've heard all sorts of things: 'RCB this, RCB that'. It's all part of the journey. A lot of people have trolled us. A lot of people have made fun of us. All of it happened. But it made us stronger. It brought us closer - as a team, and as a franchise. The relationship our fans have with RCB, that golden connection, was forged through all these setbacks. Tonight, I will sleep peacefully. It's not going to be one of those nights of endless partying. Just peace," he Kohli's victory speech too was worth an 18-year-long wait!Trending Reel IN THIS STORY#IPL 2025
Time of India
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'9 IPL trophies in the Pandya household!' Krunal calls Hardik after POTM win in RCB's 1st title victory
After being asked to bat first, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) managed to post only 190 runs on the board in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 final against Punjab Kings (PBKS). However, the pitch at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad seemed to behave differently in the second innings — especially when Krunal Pandya came on to bowl and defend what many critics had deemed a below-par total. In his four-over spell, the spinner delivered a match-winning performance, conceding just 17 runs at an economy of 4.20 and taking two key wickets — opener Prabhsimran Singh (26 off 22) and Josh Inglis (39 off 23), both looking dangerous. For his crucial contribution in helping RCB lift their maiden IPL trophy, Krunal was awarded the Player of the Match. Moments he will never forget 🏆Moments they will never forget 🤩🎥 Virat Kohli 🤝 The #RCB faithful ❤#TATAIPL | #RCBvPBKS | #Final | #TheLastMile | @RCBTweets | @imVkohli Krunal Pandya — the clutch player Speaking to Ravi Shastri during the post-match presentation, Krunal explained his bowling approach: "When we batted in the first innings, I was sitting outside and chatting with the batters, and I realised that the slower you bowl, the better. But in this format, you need guts to do that because the margin of error is small. I just backed myself and thought if I varied my pace and kept it on the slower side, I could create chances instead of just firing it in." He added: "My biggest strength has always been reading the situation. I back my gut and instincts. Today, I knew if I wanted to take a couple of wickets, I had to be brave. If you bowled quick on this surface, it would've been a good batting pitch. But varying the pace helped. It got slightly better in the second innings compared to the first." The man for the 𝗕𝗜𝗚 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗚𝗘 🫡@krunalpandya24 becomes the 1️⃣st player to deliver TWO Player of the Match performances in #TATAIPL finals 👏He guides #RCB to a maiden title 🙌Relive his spell ▶ #RCBvPBKS | #Final | #TheLastMile On RCB's long-awaited triumph, Krunal said: "When I joined RCB, I said I loved winning trophies. After three and a half months, I'm glad I could fulfil what I said on Day 1." What he said next struck an emotional chord with fans: "It's been a great 10 years — four IPL trophies. I told Hardik on the phone, now there are nine IPL trophies in the Pandya household in 10 years." About RCB's victory PBKS openers started strong, but RCB kept striking at key moments. The game turned with Krunal Pandya's brilliant spell. Romario Shepherd's key wicket of Shreyas Iyer, who failed to fire, also swung momentum. Despite PBKS's deep batting lineup, the run rate climbed steadily. Marcus Stoinis hit a six but fell on the very next ball, Nehal Wadhera holed out, and RCB's bowlers — Josh Hazlewood and Yash Dayal — kept it tight in the end, despite Shashank Singh's efforts to retain strike. Apart from an early drop, RCB's fielding was sharp, with Phil Salt setting the tone with a superb catch. In a pressure final, RCB outplayed PBKS with smart bowling, disciplined fielding, and calm execution — finally lifting their first IPL trophy.
India Today
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
RCB crowned IPL champions, 18-year-long wait for Virat Kohli, Bengaluru ends
The 18th edition of the IPL truly belonged to No. 18. An 18-year-long wait finally came to an end. As expected, it was a night of redemption, relief, and ecstasy for one team—and heartbreak, a crushing one at that, for the other. Royal Challengers Bengaluru at last claimed the title that had eluded them for so long—one that made them the butt of countless jokes and memes. For Punjab Kings, it was a case of 'so near, yet so far.' A heartbreak that will sting for a long time, having collapsed in the final after playing a brand of cricket throughout the season that was vibrant, entertaining, and was a gift from Rajat Patidar and his men to the loyal fans of Bengaluru—those who have stood by the team through years of missed opportunities and close calls. Virat Kohli could not hold back his emotions, even before the final ball was bowled, as the long and painful wait came to a glorious end. The former captain finally tasted triumph—success that others had enjoyed multiple times over the last 17 2025 final: Highlights RCB defended 190 with a clinical bowling display, led by Krunal Pandya and Josh Hazlewood. Despite their bowling discipline, it was Punjab's batting that faltered when it mattered most, with their biggest names failing to step up under Virat Kohli hugs Anushka Sharma, AB de VilliersThe tears say it allAn 18-year wait comes to an endUpdates | #RCBvPBKS | #Final | #TheLastMile | @imVkohli IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) June 3, 2025advertisementEarlier in the day, Royal Challengers Bengaluru posted 190 for 9 in their 20 overs. Despite late cameos from Jitesh Sharma (24 off 10) and Romario Shepherd (17 off 9), the total felt 15–20 runs short on a pitch that favoured stroke the mid-innings break, pundits remarked that Bengaluru had shown a lack of intent at the top, and that their eventual total was, at best, par for a final of this magnitude. Punjab's pacers kept it tight at the death, conceding just 22 runs in the last three overs. Arshdeep Singh bowled a brilliant final over, taking three wickets and conceding only three runs, ensuring that neither Romario nor Krunal found the turning point came when Vijaykumar Vyshak dismissed Jitesh Sharma in the 18th over. The Karnataka pacer executed his plans perfectly, cramping the batter for room and denying him the hard lengths he thrives had earlier reignited Punjab's chase alongside Liam Livingstone, after RCB had reduced them to 132 for 4 in 15 overs. Their partnership had given Punjab hope, especially after a sluggish 43 off 35 balls from Kohli left RCB with work to do in the final RCB's bowlers held their nerve, delivering a collective effort that finally brought the coveted title to to follow.. You May Also Like
India Today
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Virat Kohli in tears after RCB's 18-year-old wait for IPL title ends
Virat Kohli was in tears as Royal Challengers Bengaluru finally ended their 18-year wait for an IPL title, sealing a six-run victory over Punjab Kings in the grand finale in Ahmedabad on Tuesday. Kohli broke down emotionally as Josh Hazlewood bowled the final delivery of the match, which Shashank Singh dispatched for six. As the ball crossed the boundary, Kohli collapsed to the ground, struggling to hold back tears. The entire RCB team rushed towards him, sharing a heartfelt group embrace. Rajat Patidar, Krunal Pandya and Jitesh Sharma were among those who charged in to celebrate the special IPL title triumph for Kohli marked the end of a long and arduous journey. Since 2008, Kohli had been the face of RCB, enduring the highs and near-misses of 2009, 2011 and 2016, as well as the lows that tested his resilience. Year after year, he returned with the same passion and determination, driven by the hope that this day would come. The achievement holds even greater significance as Kohli has represented only one franchise throughout all 18 editions of the IPL. Despite his consistent performances, the team had repeatedly fallen short, drawing relentless trolling from fans and critics that dramatic night in Ahmedabad, Kohli stood near the boundary line, hands on his head, eyes brimming with tears. It was the defining image of the evening: a man who had given everything to a franchise, finally tears say it allAn 18-year wait comes to an endUpdates | #RCBvPBKS | #Final | #TheLastMile | @imVkohli IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) June 3, 2025advertisement As the celebrations erupted, former RCB stars AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle joined the field to embrace Kohli in joyous celebration. Kohli also invited his wife, actress Anushka Sharma, onto the ground to share in the historic moment as RCB finally lifted the IPL the final, Kohli's crucial 43 runs off 35 balls helped propel RCB to a competitive total of 190 for 9 in their allotted 20 overs. The bowling unit held firm to defend the target, with Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and others delivering key Kings' valiant chase fell short, despite a brilliant 61 from Shashank Singh, finishing on 184 for 7. This victory marks a long-awaited maiden IPL title for Virat Kohli, who has been an ever-present figure in the RCB squad since 2008 and has endured three previous runner-up finishes with the updated on IPL 2025 with India Today! Get match schedules, team squads, live score, and the latest IPL points table for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, SRH, LSG, DC, GT, PBKS, and RR. Plus, keep track of the top contenders for the IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap. Don't miss a moment!Trending Reel
