After 18 long years, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) finally clinched their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title, defeating Punjab Kings (PBKS) by six runs in a thrilling IPL 2025 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
The historic win was extra special for Virat Kohli, who has been the face of RCB since the tournament’s inception. Despite the magnitude of the victory, Kohli remained grounded and took a moment to emphasize the unmatched value of Test cricket.
Kohli, who retired from Test cricket on May 12 ahead of India’s upcoming five-Test series against England, ended his red-ball career with 123 Tests, 9230 runs, 30 centuries, and an average of 46.85. Speaking after the final to former Australian batter Matthew Hayden, Kohli said, “This moment is right up there with the best in my career. But it still ranks five levels below Test cricket. That’s how much I value and love the longest format.”
Kohli passionately urged young cricketers to respect and prioritize Test cricket, stating, “If you perform in Test cricket, people around the world look you in the eye and say, ‘Well done, you played the game the right way.’” He added that earning respect in global cricket is closely tied to one’s commitment to Test cricket.
The former India captain leaves behind a remarkable legacy in the format, including leading India to their first-ever Test series win in Australia and building a formidable pace-bowling unit. His iconic 2018 tour of England, where he scored 697 runs with three centuries, remains a career highlight.
In the IPL final, RCB posted 190/9, with Kohli contributing a vital 43 off 35 balls. Krunal Pandya’s impressive spell of 2/17 and Romario Shepherd’s key dismissal of PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer sealed the win. Overcome with emotion, Kohli was seen in tears after the victory, surrounded by jubilant teammates celebrating a long-awaited triumph.
