Cup namde? Royal Challengers Bengaluru eye to break 17-year jinx

AHMEDABAD: On Tuesday night, Indian Premier League will have a new champion. Both finalists -- Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings -- have been chasing the elusive title for 17 years. While RCB came agonizingly close to staking claim on three occasions (2009, 2011 and 2016), Punjab's (then Kings XI Punjab) best and only shot at the trophy was in 2014.What sets the finalists apart this season is the turnaround in the approach towards team composition. Once known to be a dressing room of superstars, both teams are now a pool of proven performers and talent.While RCB is focused on team effort rather than individual brilliance, Punjab rebuilt their team centred around Shreyas Iyer, the first captain to lead three different teams in an IPL final, and the coaching acumen of Ricky Ponting.With rain predictions, both teams will have an eye on the sky, in what promises to be a cracker of a contest on a batting-friendly surface at the Narendra Modi stadium.The other major subplot of the contest is, of course, Virat Kohli, the power centre of the Bengaluru franchise. Kohli recently stepped away from Test cricket and announced T20 international retirement last year. This means, it will be a while after Tuesday before the stalwart is seen on the field again.Paying tribute to Kohli, Rajat Patidar said, "He has given a lot of years to RCB. We will try to do our best in the game."Will the man who has worn the No.18 jersey be able to break the duck in the 18th edition? Over to the match.