For many in the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, it was a night to remember when the team clinched the IPL trophy beating Punjab Kings by six runs at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad
Published Date – 4 June 2025, 09:47 AM
HYDERABAD: For many in the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, it was a night to remember when the team clinched the IPL trophy beating Punjab Kings by six runs at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
What exactly were the feelings of some of those key players and Dinesh Karthik, mentor and batting coach?
Player of the match: Krunal Pandya: When we batted, we realised the slower you bowl the better it is. In this format, you need guts to do it. I just backed myself, thinking I’ll vary my pace and keep it on the slower side more often. My biggest strength has been to learn what the situation requires. I knew I had to be brave to get wickets tonight. Thought I’d do that by bowling slow. If you’d have bowled quick, it’d have been a good wicket. But if you mixed it up it was tougher. Pitch actually got easier in the second innings. I have enjoyed my time with RCB so far, I said on day one I wanted to win. I told Hardik too that the Pandya household will have nine trophies in 11 years.
Jitesh sharma: I can’t express myself at the moment. I am very happy for Virat bhai. He has waited for 18 years and I can understand what he can feel. When you feel this tournament for someone else, it becomes magical. When you play for yourself, you become a bit subdued. But when playing for someone else, it becomes great.
Dinesh karthik: Massive. It’s a team that’s waited 18 years. AB de Villiers, Kohli, all tried their hearts out. Support staff too. We believed from the start we were good. Had all bases covered. Was great that everyone stepped up in different situations. Got above par tonight, batters felt it wasn’t easy. But the final wasn’t about the pitch we needed fire in the belly and had it. Andy Flower pulled us through the ringer, he’s groomed me, Mo Bobat had a plan and a vision. It fell into place, amazing effort from the boys.
Phil Salt: It’s an unbelievable feeling. I don’t know where I am at the moment. I have not slept. (On being a father) I have got a lucky charm now. Over the moon, mate. (Fans) Everywhere we got, we are the best supported team. It’s a big fan base. AB is here, Chris is here. It’s unbelievable. Thanks for your support. You have won more games for us than you think.
Josh Hazlewood: I think 190 was a good score, wicket was up and down. May have gotten better in the second innings. Everyone chipped in. Means everything to Kohli, to be there from the start and get the result tonight will bring out a lot of emotion.
Bhuvneshwar kumar: We knew the wicket would not be easy and 190 would not be easy. It was 10 more than what we thought. Krunal’s spell changed the scenario for us. Change of pace was not easy, but we thought we would not over-use it.
