Nineteen years later, Virat Kohli finally lives his IPL dream

When one thinks of Virat Kohli, phrases such as ‘greatest batter of the modern era’, ‘ultimate chasemaster’ and 'one of cricket’s most decorated players' instantly come to mind. Over nearly two decades, the batting stalwart has conquered almost every summit the sport has to offer. World Cups, Champions Trophies, world records, Player of the Tournament awards, and countless match-winning knocks have all found a place in his glittering career.

Yet, beneath the mountain of achievements and accolades, there remained one unfulfilled dream. As Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) clinched their second Indian Premier League (IPL) title, beating Gujarat Titans (GT) at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Kohli’s long-lasting wish finally became a reality.

For all his greatness, there was one image that had continued to live rent-free in Kohli’s mind: him standing at the crease, finishing an IPL final for RCB and hitting the winning runs himself.

Kohli's career has been built on achievements most cricketers can only dream of. He owns the record for the most ODI centuries, has the second-most centuries in international cricket, has won Player of the Tournament awards in both ODI and T20 World Cups, and has played defining roles in some of India's greatest victories.

However, despite earning numerous laurels in his cricketing career, one deep desire had left him hollow from the inside for 19 years. Kohli came into the IPL 2026 final, having a modest record in the playoffs by his lofty standards. In the 18 innings, he had scored 439 runs at an average of 27.43 and a strike rate of 124.71 with just two fifties. 

The heartbreak of 2016

When it came to finals, there wasn’t much to show either, as he had just one fifty across four innings, that too in a losing cause. When Kohli scored a 32-ball half-century in the IPL 2016 final against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), it seemed as if he was destined to take RCB to their maiden IPL title, being in the form of his life.

However, as soon as he returned to the pavilion for 54 (35), RCB collapsed dramatically to lose the final by eight runs. Since then, every year he carried the scars of that loss heading into every season, with a hope to one day finally end his trophy drought. It took him a whopping 18 years to have his first taste of glory in the T20 extravaganza, but still, the heart wanted more.

In the four tournament finals where RCB batted second, Kohli had failed to take his team over the line, despite being touted as the greatest chaser in world cricket. On Sunday, with RCB pursuing another target in an IPL final, the chasemaster came out all guns blazing, determined to flip the script

Time to heal old scars

He got off the mark with a boundary against Mohammed Siraj and pulled him for another one two balls later. Kohli then took on Kagiso Rabada in the most-awaited battle of the final, whacking him for three fours and a six and racing to 28 off just ten deliveries.

He further clobbered Rabada for another maximum, moving to 35 off just 12 balls as RCB were hurrying towards their target. After a brisk start, Kohli had to put his gear down to stitch partnerships as wickets began to tumble, making the ghosts of 2016 linger in his brain again.

However, he was quick to dismiss them with his composure at the crease perfectly mixed with calculated risks. He registered his fastest ever half-century of IPL career in 25 balls and got his team closer to the finishing line run-by-run.

It seemed as if even destiny wanted him to stay there till the end as Kohli got a reprieve on 63, when Shubman Gill grounded a chance at mid-off. He made full use of his second life and finally got RCB home in a run chase in an IPL final, finishing the game with a towering six over a long-on. Kohli remained unbeaten 75* (42) with the help of nine fours and three sixes, and let out his trademark roar to celebrate the victory.

A dream realised

He was deservedly adjudged Player of the Match in RCB's five-wicket victory. Commenting on his innings, Kohli revealed that it had been his long desire to help RCB win an IPL final on his own, which he finally fulfilled.

“Well, it’s the stuff that you dream of. I’ve thought of this moment many times, that, you know, once when we win the IPL, I should be standing there hitting the winning runs, and tonight it was possible. So yeah, just a dream day for us,” said Kohli in the post-match presentation.

For a cricketer who has spent his career turning dreams into reality, the IPL 2026 victory perhaps meant more than most. Not because it added another trophy to his collection. But because it finally completed the picture he had been carrying in his mind for 19 long years.