📰 Key Highlights
- Virat Kohli, visibly emotional, kissed the Motera pitch after Josh Hazlewood’s second ball of the 20th over in the IPL 2025 final, symbolizing the end of an 18-year-long wait for RCB.
- After RCB sealed the victory, Kohli hugged wife Anushka Sharma in a heartfelt moment, marking a personal and professional culmination of years of effort.
- Kohli said, “I’ve given this team my youth, prime and experience. I’ve tried to win it every season, gave it everything I have.”
🗣️ Kohli on Retirement and ‘Impact Player’ Rule
- Kohli hinted at approaching the end of his career, saying: “There is an end date to our career… I want to sit at home and say I gave it everything I had.”
- Firmly rejected the idea of playing just as an “Impact Player”: “I can’t play as an impact player. I want to feel 20 overs and make an impact in the field.”
👑 Tribute to AB de Villiers
- Kohli invited AB de Villiers, who was present near the boundary line, to celebrate: “Told him, ‘this win is as much yours as it is ours.’ He deserves to be on the podium, lifting the Cup.”
💬 On the IPL Title
- When asked where he ranks this IPL title among his World Cup and Champions Trophy wins: “Right up there. I’ve stayed loyal to this team, no matter what. My heart is with Bangalore, my soul is with Bangalore.”
🎙️ Closing Thoughts
- Kohli described IPL as a “high-intensity, high-quality” tournament that demands 100%.
- His commitment reflects a desire to not just play, but to lead, influence, and inspire till the very last match of his IPL journey.
🏁 In a Nutshell
This moment was more than a title—it was a career-defining milestone. For the millions who idolize Kohli, it was also a reminder that even legends have an end date, and every match from here on will be savored with that awareness.