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After enduring years of disappointment, Virat Kohli and the millions of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) supporters finally got to witness the moment they had long yearned for in the Indian Premier League. The emotional victory in the IPL 2025 final was more than just a win for RCB and Virat Kohli, it marked a pivotal, legacy-defining milestone in Kohli's illustrious career.
It was no less than a dream come true for Kohli, who has been the cornerstone of RCB franchise since the tournament's inception. RCB's exhilarating six-run win over Punjab Kings brought forth tears of joy, relief, and a long-awaited conclusion to Kohli's painful drought for an IPL title. Kohli had an exceptional IPL 2025 season, where he not only emerged as the leading run-scorer for RCB but also secured the position of the third-highest run-getter across the entire tournament.
Throughout the season, Kohli amassed an impressive total of 657 runs in 15 matches at an average of 54.75.
Virat Kohli can happily stop playing IPL whenever he wants to make that decision: Virender Sehwag
Since 2008, the former captain has remained a steadfast figure for the Bengaluru-based franchise, weathering both successes and setbacks. He even faced the bitter disappointment of three agonizing final losses in the years 2009, 2011, and 2016. However, this time, the elusive IPL title has finally been claimed by the iconic Indian batter, marking a significant achievement in his celebrated career.
Following RCB's title triumph, former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag said that Kohli has now accomplished his mission in the IPL, and this historic win has finally lifted a significant burden of expectation from him.
With his 18-year-long wait for the IPL trophy finally over, Sehwag stated that the RCB icon has earned the right to consider retirement from his IPL career should he choose to do so. He emphasized the importance of trophies in defining a player's legacy, alongside personal achievements like runs and records, and pointed out that Kohli has now attained all the major titles in his cricketing career.
“It's the same for Virat Kohli. Now, he can be relieved. He can happily stop playing IPL whenever he wants to make that decision. A player plays to win the trophy. Money comes and goes, but winning trophies isn't easy. And even as Kohli's wait ended, he has still made a very strong contribution to their campaign,” Sehwag was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.
Meanwhile, Sehwag drew a compelling parallel between Kohli's journey to winning an IPL trophy and Sachin Tendulkar's long quest for the Cricket World Cup. The former Indian opener pointed out that Tendulkar began his illustrious career for India in 1989 but had to wait for over two decades, until 2011, to finally lift the coveted World Cup trophy.
Similarly, Kohli had been a part of IPL since its inception in 2008 but had not tasted title success until the 2025 season. Sehwag expressed his opinion that both Tendulkar and Kohli exemplified unwavering dedication and relentless hard work over many years, never losing hope in their pursuit of victory. He concluded that, in the end, their perseverance was rewarded with the achievements they so richly deserved.
“His (Kohli's) wait to win the trophy is only 18 years. Sachin Tendulkar waited from 1989 to 2011. So, Kohli's wait was shorter, and even Sachin never lost hope. He had made up his mind; he would only bow out with a World Cup trophy in his hand,” Sehwag concluded.
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