Picture this: A man falls to his knees, tears streaming down his face, as 50,000 voices roar in unison. This wasn’t just any celebration. This was Virat Kohli, after 18 years of heartbreak, finally lifting the IPL trophy with Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
June 3, 2025, will forever be etched in cricket folklore. Not for the margin of victory—a nail-biting six runs—but for what it represented. Perseverance. Loyalty. And the sweet taste of success after years of near-misses.
The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad witnessed pure theatre. Punjab Kings won the toss and chose to field, a decision that looked smart as Kyle Jamieson reduced RCB to early trouble.
But cricket, as we know, loves its scripts.
Virat Kohli’s 43 might seem modest on paper. Yet watching him bat was like watching a master craftsman at work—each shot calculated, each run precious. Young Mayank Agarwal showed glimpses of brilliance with a quickfire 24, while captain Rajat Patidar contributed a valuable 26.
The real fireworks came from Jitesh Sharma. His 10-ball 24 was pure entertainment—a flat-batted six over cover that defied physics, a scoop over his head that left Kyle Jamieson scratching his head.
RCB’s total of 190/9 looked competitive but not insurmountable.
Here’s where experience trumped youth.
Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Yash Dayal—all IPL winners with other franchises—brought their A-game when it mattered most. They understood the Ahmedabad surface like old friends understand each other’s silences.
PBKS needed 29 off the final over. Josh Hazlewood had the ball. Two dots to start.
Game. Set. Match.
Shashank Singh’s late heroics (61* off 30) made the scoreline respectable, but the damage was done. Those two dot balls had already written history.
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room—or should I say, the number 18 on the back.
Kohli’s IPL journey with RCB has been Shakespearean. The tragic hero who gave everything but received nothing in return. Until now.
“This is right up there with the best moments of my career,” Kohli said post-match, his voice still heavy with emotion. Coming from a man who’s won the T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy in the last 12 months, that’s saying something.
His loyalty to RCB, despite lucrative offers elsewhere, finally paid dividends. Sometimes, good things do come to those who wait.
Pace vs Pace: Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc versus Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen, and Lungi Ngidi. On a Lord’s surface with a Dukes ball, this is pace bowling paradise.
The Openers’ Test: Sam Konstas, Australia’s teenage sensation, might be too raw for English conditions. Will Marnus Labuschagne move up to open? South Africa face their own dilemma with Tony de Zorzi, Aiden Markram, and Ryan Rickelton all having opened recently.
The Captaincy Chess Match: Pat Cummins vs Temba Bavuma. Two contrasting leaders—one leads by example with the ball, the other carries his team’s emotional weight.
This isn’t just about the trophy or the $3.6 million prize money.
For Australia, it’s about cementing their Test dynasty. For South Africa, it’s about exorcising demons and claiming their first ICC title since 1998.
The match starts at 10:30 AM local time (30 minutes earlier than usual), with a reserve day on June 16—because English weather, as we know, has its own plans.
While celebrations erupted for RCB, the cricket world bid farewell to one of T20’s most explosive talents.
Nicholas Pooran, at just 29, announced his retirement from international cricket via Instagram. The West Indies’ T20 record-holder for runs and appearances decided to walk away at his peak.
It’s a reminder that modern cricket’s demands take their toll. The endless travel, the format juggling, the pressure—not everyone wants to dance to that tune forever.
Pooran’s retirement opens larger questions about cricket’s sustainability. Are we asking too much of our players? Is the cricket calendar becoming a monster that devours its own children?
This year’s IPL proved one thing—experience matters when stakes are highest.
RCB’s title-winning squad wasn’t built on young promise alone. It was crafted with players who’d been there, done that. Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood—champions elsewhere who brought championship mentality to RCB.
The message is clear: In T20 cricket’s age of aggression, wisdom still wins matches.
With all the T20 razzmatazz, tomorrow’s WTC Final reminds us why Test cricket remains the pinnacle.
Kohli, fresh from his IPL triumph, put it beautifully: “This moment is right up there, but it’s still five levels under Test cricket.”
In an era of instant gratification, Test cricket demands patience. In a world of shortcuts, it rewards the long road. That’s why the WTC Final at Lord’s carries weight that transcends trophies.
2025’s cricket calendar reads like a marathon runner’s nightmare:
Players are becoming CEOs of their own careers, choosing formats like investment portfolios. Pooran’s retirement at 29 won’t be the last early exit we see.
The next 48 hours belong to Test cricket. Lord’s, with its slope and history, awaits. Will Australia’s pace trio demolish South Africa’s batting? Can Rabada and company exploit English conditions better?
The beauty lies in not knowing.
Post the WTC Final, attention shifts to the Champions Trophy. The tournament that gave us Fakhar Zaman’s hundred in 2017 and India’s joint-winners controversy in 2002 returns with fresh narratives.
England hosts India for a five-Test series. Pakistan tours Bangladesh. The West Indies travel everywhere. Cricket’s circus never stops.
657: Virat Kohli’s runs in IPL 2025, with eight half-centuries—all in victories
$3.6 million: Winner’s prize for the WTC Final
18: Years RCB waited for their first IPL title
29: Years of Nicholas Pooran’s age at retirement
10: Points Australia were docked for slow over-rates in the Ashes
Beyond statistics and schedules lies cricket’s soul—its ability to create moments that transcend sport.
Kohli’s tears weren’t just about a trophy. They were 18 years of “what-ifs” finally becoming “at last.”
Tomorrow, when Cummins and Bavuma walk out for the toss at Lord’s, they carry not just their team’s hopes but the weight of history.
That’s cricket in 2025—emotional, relentless, and utterly captivating.
As I write this, somewhere Kohli is probably still processing his IPL triumph. In London, groundsmen are preparing the Lord’s pitch with religious devotion. Young cricketers worldwide are choosing between red-ball dreams and white-ball riches.
This is cricket’s beautiful chaos. Where an 18-year wait ends in tears of joy. Where 29-year-olds retire to preserve their sanity. Where Test cricket still commands reverence despite T20’s commercial dominance.
2025 isn’t just another year in cricket. It’s a turning point. A year where loyalty was rewarded, where new champions will be crowned, where difficult questions about the sport’s future demand answers.
But for now, let’s savor the moment. RCB are champions. The WTC Final beckons. Cricket, in all its formats and contradictions, remains the most wonderfully unpredictable sport on earth.
Game on.
FAQ Section
Q: When and where is the ICC World Test Championship Final 2025 being played? A: The WTC Final between Australia and South Africa starts tomorrow, June 11, 2025, at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London. Play begins at 10:30 AM local time (7:30 PM AEST), which is 30 minutes earlier than usual Test matches in England. There’s also a reserve day scheduled for June 16 in case of weather interruptions.
Q: How did RCB finally win their first IPL title after 18 years? A: RCB defeated Punjab Kings by 6 runs in the IPL 2025 final on June 3 at Ahmedabad. Batting first, they scored 190/9 with Virat Kohli (43) anchoring the innings. Their experienced bowling attack, led by Krunal Pandya and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, defended the total successfully. Josh Hazlewood’s two dot balls at the start of the final over essentially sealed the victory.
Q: Why did Nicholas Pooran retire from international cricket at just 29? A: While Pooran didn’t specify exact reasons in his Instagram announcement, his decision reflects the growing trend of players prioritizing their wellbeing over extended international careers. As West Indies’ T20 record-holder, he’s achieved significant milestones. The demanding international calendar and the physical/mental toll of modern cricket likely influenced his decision to step away while still at his peak.
Q: What are the key player battles to watch in the WTC Final? A: The pace bowling confrontation will be crucial—Australia’s Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc against South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen, and Lungi Ngidi. With the Dukes ball at Lord’s, conditions favor seamers. The opening partnerships will also be vital, with both teams having selection dilemmas. Watch for how the young Sam Konstas handles English conditions if selected, and whether South Africa’s top-order combination clicks.
Q: What’s next in the cricket calendar after the WTC Final? A: The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is the next major tournament, followed by several bilateral series including England hosting India for five Tests. The cricket calendar remains packed with various series including the Cricket World Cup League 2, Women’s Championships, and multiple T20I and ODI series across different countries. The non-stop nature of international cricket continues to be both a blessing and a challenge for players and fans alike.
References
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