After 18 seasons filled with heartbreaks, near misses, and resolute cries of “Ee Sala Cup Namde,” Royal Challengers Bengaluru eventually won their first IPL championship. However, one tale stood out above the six-run victory over the Punjab Kings: Virat Kohli’s path of reliability, devotion, and calm perseverance.
This season, Kohli didn’t hit any hundreds. He wasn’t a particularly explosive player. But he showed up for every game. He set the tone with his energy, ran hard even in pointless overs, and anchored innings when wickets fell. He made no attempt to reinvent himself at the age of 36. He simply trusted the method that had brought him excellence for more than a decade.
It was more than simply form. It has to do with character.
Kohli remained devoted to a team that was more well-known for its memes than its awards for years. Others switched teams in pursuit of championships, but he stuck with it, accepting criticism. And it was poetic justice that Kohli was there, crying, embracing Anushka Sharma in a moment that said it all as RCB eventually crossed the line.
Kohli’s narrative serves as a reminder of the slow burn in a society that values rapid wins. Sometimes achieving success is just showing up every day, putting in the effort, and having faith even when others laugh at you. It’s not always about rapid progress.
There was more to RCB’s victory than simply sports. It was an homage to perseverance. To be patient. To playing the long game.
And at the heart of it all stood a man who never stopped running.
Finally, Ee Sala Cup Namde.
Written By:
Kesar Khatri
