'More than anyone else': Captain Rajat Patidar dedicates historic IPL win to RCB legend Virat Kohli

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Updated: Jun 06, 2025, 21:41 IST

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Amidst the title celebrations and passionate displays of jubilation, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru lifted their maiden IPL crown. As Rajat Patidar went up to lift the trophy as RCB skipper, he made a selfless proclamation to dedicate the win to loyal RCB star and their biggest icon till date - Virat Kohli.

'More than anyone else': Captain Rajat Patidar dedicates historic IPL win to RCB legend Virat Kohli

Rajat Patidar selflessly credited Virat Kohli as the one that deserves the trophy the most (Images via X/@IPL & RCBTweets)

Virat Kohli's and Royal Challengers Bengaluru's 18-year wait for a maiden IPL trophy ended on Tuesday. Under the leadership of Rajat Patidar and riding on the back of a thrilling bowling display, RCB clinched the trophy in supreme fashion. After putting up a score of 190 on the board, RCB made sure that the win was theirs with a spectacular bowling display. Anchored by the magic spell of Krunal Pandya's 2/17, Bengaluru finally put an end to their trophy drought with the win over PBKS.

'A particularly special feeling': Andy Flower hails Virat Kohli, RCB after historic title win

Following the win, Virat Kohli broke down in tears as he fell to the ground and covered his face. As the title celebrations went on into the night, skipper Patidar made a selfless claim moments before he lifted the trophy. In response to Ravi Shastri's probe that he is the first RCB captain to lift the elusive title, he was quick to deflect all the attention to Kohli.Referring to the No 18, Patidar said, "As I said, I think he deserves more than anyone else. Virat Kohli and all the fans." Cameras zoomed in on a jubilant Kohli as he cracked a smile.Fans on social media also shared their excitement and adoration for Patidar as he selflessly offered the IPL title where it rightfully belongs - in Virat Kohli's hands.

Furthermore, the skipper confidently proclaimed to the crowd, "Ee sala cup namde", to which the crowd roared in response. Kohli too, was all smiles.

Despite not being captain for RCB's title win, Kohli will be remembered for his near decade-long reign as RCB skipper. The 36-year-old stepped down from captaincy duties in 2021, but has continued to be one of the mainstays of RCB's batting line-up.

Poll

Who deserves the most credit for RCB's IPL victory?

Rajat PatidarVirat KohliKrunal PandyaThere is no one player in particular

As title celebrations stretched on into the night and set to continue on Wednesday, all eyes will once again be on Kohli, and the IPL trophy which he se passionately chased for close to two decades.

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TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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