Virat Kohli Celebrates Historic IPL Victory with Ravi Shastri
A Historic Moment for Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Virat Kohli, a key player for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), shared a touching moment with former Indian captain and coach Ravi Shastri following the team's first Indian Premier League (IPL) title victory on June 3.
After 18 years of striving, RCB finally secured their maiden IPL trophy by defeating the Punjab Kings at the packed Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. RCB was one of the original teams, alongside Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals, that had yet to win an IPL title since the tournament's inception in 2008.
Despite reaching the finals in 2009, 2011, and 2016, RCB had always fallen short. However, in their first final appearance in nine years, they triumphed over Punjab Kings in a thrilling match, marking a significant milestone for the franchise and its dedicated fanbase.
Emotional Reunion: Kohli and Shastri
During the celebrations in Ahmedabad, Kohli spotted Shastri, who was fulfilling his broadcasting role during the IPL final.
A video that quickly gained traction on social media captured the moment when Kohli, filled with excitement, dashed towards Shastri and leaped into his arms, sharing a heartfelt embrace. Shastri held Kohli tightly as the RCB star finally celebrated his long-awaited victory after 18 years.
2 MINUTES OLD 😭🤏🏻 pic.twitter.com/zyaTGM3smh
Kohli and Shastri share a deep bond, having experienced numerous historic moments in Indian cricket together, particularly in Test matches. Notable achievements during Shastri's coaching tenure include winning the Test series in Australia and the remarkable 2020-21 series victory against Australia on their home ground after the Gabba Test.
Their strong relationship is evident, as Kohli consulted Shastri before deciding to retire from Test cricket ahead of the England tour. Kohli announced his retirement from the longest format before the five-match Test series against England, concluding his illustrious red-ball career after 14 years and 123 matches.
Kohli Achieves His IPL Dream
For Kohli, this victory was more than just a team achievement; it was the realization of his personal dream of becoming an IPL champion—a title that had eluded him for nearly two decades.
Having participated in the IPL since its inaugural season in 2008, Kohli has played for RCB throughout his career. He reached the finals in 2009, 2011, and 2016 but fell short each time, making the 2025 victory particularly special and emotional for the franchise's icon.
In the 2025 IPL season, Kohli had an outstanding performance, scoring 657 runs, including eight fifties, with an average of 54.75 across 15 matches. However, he was unable to retain the Orange Cap, which he won in a previous season with 741 runs in 15 matches.
Kohli continues to solidify his status as the IPL's leading run-scorer, accumulating 8,661 runs, including 8 centuries and 63 fifties, with an average of 39.54 over 267 matches.