Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], June 4: After securing their inaugural Indian Premier League (IPL) championship, Virat Kohli of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) dedicated the victory to the city of Bengaluru and shared his aspirations for the future of his franchise career.

Kohli's long-awaited IPL title was achieved thanks to impressive bowling from RCB, which led them to a thrilling six-run victory over Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

In a post-match interview, Kohli expressed his desire to continually enhance his performance and contribute significantly throughout the entire 20 overs of the game. He stated, “I have a limited time to play this sport. I want to ensure that when I retire, I can reflect on my career and feel that I gave it my all. I strive to improve and aim to make a lasting impact on the field. That’s the player I aspire to be, and I am grateful for the talent and perspective I have been given.”

He praised the team's management and players, acknowledging their collective effort in achieving this milestone. “This management and group of players have been exceptional. They have assembled a team of match-winners who are ready to take risks. Despite initial doubts about our auction strategies, we gained confidence in our squad's strengths. I want to emphasize that this victory belongs to everyone involved, including the players, their families, and the management who supported us through challenging times,” he concluded.

In the final match, PBKS won the toss and opted to bowl first. Arshdeep Singh (3/40) and Kyle Jamieson (3/48) delivered crucial breakthroughs, while Yuzi Chahal (1/37) also played a key role in limiting runs. Kohli scored 43 runs off 35 balls, supported by Rajat Patidar (26 off 16), Jitesh Sharma (24 off 10), and Liam Livingstone (25 off 15), helping RCB set a target of 190/9 in 20 overs.

During the chase, PBKS started strong with Priyansh Arya (24 off 19) and Prabhsimran (26 off 22) forming a 43-run partnership. Josh Inglis (39 off 23) and Shashank Singh (61* off 30) fought hard to keep pace with the required run rate, but Krunal Pandya (2/17), Yash Dayal (1/18), and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2/38) effectively restricted PBKS to 184/7, despite Shashank's explosive 22 runs in the final over.

For PBKS, the quest for their first title continues, having reached their second final and their first in over a decade.