By Simon Wilkes
Virat Kohli says winning the Indian Premier League with Royal Challengers Bengaluru is “right up there” with his best career achievements.
The India legend scored 43 off 35 balls as he steered his side to 190-9 in the IPL final against Punjab Kings at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Monday.
England duo Phil Salt (16 off nine balls) and Liam Livingstone (25 off 15 balls) also helped RCB to post a competitive total after the Kings had won the toss and elected to field.
Shashank Singh’s brutal 61 from 30 deliveries then propelled Punjab to 184-7, with Josh Inglis contributing an impressive knock of 39 featuring four sixes, but it was not enough.
Hands on silverware
In the end, it was Kohli and his RCB teammates who got their hands on the IPL trophy.
And it was a special moment for the 36-year-old batter, who has been a member of the franchise’s IPL squad since 2008, finishing runner-up on three previous occasions.
When asked where winning a maiden IPL title ranks for him in his career, Kohli told Sky Sports: “It’s right up there, if I have to be honest. I’ve given everything that I had for the last 18 years and I’ve stayed loyal to this team, no matter what.
“I’ve had moments where I thought otherwise, but I stuck to this team. I stood behind them, they stood behind me, and I always dreamt of winning it with them.
“This is far more special than winning it with anyone else because my heart is with Bangalore, my soul is with Bangalore.”
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Win is ‘for the fans’
Kohli added: “This win is as much for the fans as it is for the team. It’s been 18 long years. I’ve given this team my youth, my prime, and my experience.
“I’ve tried to win this every season that I come and I give it everything I have.
“To finally have this moment come, it’s an unbelievable feeling.
“I never thought this day would come. I was overcome with emotions as soon as the last ball was bowled and this means so much to me.
“I’ve given each and every ounce of my energy to this team and finally having won the IPL, it’s an amazing feeling.”
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James Mario Ajero 
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