A pure wave of joy tears away Virat Kohli’s eyes when he sees Ravi Shastri after winning the IPL

In a moment that will go down in IPL history, Virat Kohli rushed toward Ravi Shastri with childlike exuberance, leaping into his arms after finally capturing his first Indian Premier League title. The emotions overflowed on Tuesday night at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, where the Royal Challengers Bengaluru ended years of heartbreak with a dramatic six-run triumph over the Punjab Kings in the IPL 2025 final. For Kohli, who has been the face of RCB for nearly two decades, this was not merely a victory — it was a culmination of dreams, struggles, and relentless perseverance.

As the final ball was bowled and RCB were confirmed champions, Kohli dropped to his knees, overwhelmed by the magnitude of the moment. Teammates rushed to celebrate with him, but it was a heartfelt embrace with former India head coach Ravi Shastri that captured the spirit of the night. The video of their hug soon took the internet by storm, symbolizing the deep bond between the two stalwarts who had shared many highs and lows during their time with the Indian national team from 2017 to 2021.

Kohli’s joy was uncontainable as he jumped into Shastri’s arms, drawing laughter and emotion from fans who have followed his journey since the early days. Shastri, who has remained close to Kohli even after his coaching stint ended, responded warmly, patting the batter on the head as they shared a rare, intimate moment of triumph. Their camaraderie, forged in the crucible of international cricket, stood resilient through time, evident again when Shastri disclosed a recent deep conversation they had following Kohli’s surprising retirement from Test cricket.

In the post-match presentation, Kohli spoke with heavy emotion, telling Matthew Hayden, “It’s been 18 long years. I’ve given everything to this team — my youth, my peak, and all of my experience. To finally be champions is beyond belief.” For a man who joined RCB fresh off his U-19 World Cup win in 2008, this wasn’t just another trophy — it was redemption. Having suffered defeat in three previous IPL finals, Kohli made sure history wouldn’t repeat itself. His composed 43 off 35 deliveries may not have been his flashiest, but it played a pivotal role in guiding RCB to a competitive 190/9.

Despite a fierce counterattack from Shashank Singh in the final over — where he took 22 runs off Josh Hazlewood — the Punjab Kings could only muster 184/7. As Kohli later admitted, still caught in the afterglow of triumph, “I never thought I’d see this day. When that last ball was bowled, it all hit me. I’ve poured every bit of myself into this team.” After 17 years of close calls, near misses, and unwavering loyalty, Kohli and RCB finally claimed the crown that had eluded them — a win that felt like destiny fulfilled.