Despite a commendable performance by the Punjab bowling attack, which limited RCB to 190 for nine, the batters struggled under pressure. Shreyas Iyer’s team fell short, scoring only 184 for seven in their 20 overs.
After leading RCB to their long-awaited first IPL title, Virat Kohli shared insights into what drives his unwavering passion for the game. When asked about his motivation to maintain his high intensity, the seasoned batter stated that he doesn’t view himself as merely an impact player.
When questioned about his inspiration to remain in the game, Kohli remarked, “I have a limited window to play this game. There’s a finite end to our careers, as you know. By the time I retire, I want to reflect and say that I gave everything I had. So, I constantly seek ways to enhance my performance. I can’t just play as an impact player; I want to experience all 20 overs and make a significant contribution on the field. That’s the type of player I am.”
Rohit Sharma, the former captain of MI, served as an impact player this season; however, he boasts a record of winning 5 IPL titles and 2 ICC tournaments as the key figure.
RCB finally celebrated a trophy after having finished as runners-up three times in the past. It was a devastating defeat for Punjab Kings, who were making only their second appearance in the final and their first since 2014.
“God has blessed me with that perspective, and the talent. Then you find various ways to contribute to the team. This management and this group of players have been exceptional, to be honest. They’ve selected the right match-winners, individuals who embrace challenges. Many questioned our auction strategies,” he added.
RCB managed to secure the win despite not having the ideal batting performance. Virat Kohli was the top scorer with 43 runs off 35 balls, while skipper Rajat Patidar failed to capitalize on a solid start, scoring 26 off 16 balls. For Punjab Kings, Yuzvendra Chahal excelled with figures of 1/37 in 4 overs, while Kyle Jamieson recorded 3 for 48.
The coveted wicket of Kohli was claimed by Afghanistan all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai (1/35). However, the standout figures belonged to India’s leading T20 bowler Arshdeep Singh (3/40), who secured three wickets in the final over.
(With PTI inputs)
