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“Dinesh Karthik reflects on the intensity and passion of playing in a final, emphasizing that it’s all about emotion and having enough fire in the tank to win.”
June 3 2025 will be etched forever in the hearts of Royal Challengers Bengaluru fans all across the globe Dinesh Karthik , as the franchise broke its trophy drought after 18 long seasons. Season 18 of the IPL had parallels drawn towards RCB and India’s No. 18 Virat Kohli that it could be his year after the IPL crown eluded him for 18 long years. After posting a par score of 190 for 9, RCB defended the total by a margin of six runswith a collective bowling effort led by Krunal Pandya, who bowled a miserly spell of 2 for 17 in his four overs.
Here’s how the RCB players reacted to the IPL win:
It looked very much like it [on defending the total]. We thought 180 would be a good score to defend on. And we got almost 190.Ten more than what we thought. And that was the executor of the last seven. He’s seen a lot of counter bowling. I think he [Krunal Pandya on changing his pace] spent 10 to 16 hours. That’s what he bowled in the middle. But, yes, he changed the pace a little bit. But we talked about it to Dinesh Karthik , that we don’t want to overuse it. We’ll use other options and then use a slow option as well.
Yeah, Dinesh Karthik I think 190 was a very good score. I think the wicket was a little bit up and down. I know it got better as the night went on. But I think our guys brought it out in the back really well to close that score. Everyone just chipped in. And the bowlers held their nerves. So, yeah, great result.
Yeah, it probably means everything [to Virat Kohli]. You know, a few of us come and go in franchises. But to me, they’re there from the start. And to slug it out for 18 seasons and to get the result tonight, I think you’ll see a bit of emotion, yeah. Yeah, absolutely [on coming back after the IPL interruption]. You only get better playing in situations like this, gaining that experience. It only adds so many things to your body. So, very happy I came back. I feel fine. These franchises have been for a number of years. Yeah, it’s awesome.
It’s an unbelievable feeling right now. I’ll be honest with you. I don’t know where I am at the minute. I’ve not had the most sleep. But I’m so proud of the moment. I’ve got a lucky charm now. My brother very much. I can [on what it means to the franchise]. Every round we go, we’re the best of our team. It’s ridiculous. Even now, we’ve got AB here. We’ve got Chris here. Everyone’s come back. If you play for them, you love the franchise. If you support them, you love them. And we’re so grateful for that. Thanks for supporting us. Thanks for coming out with your numbers. Early on in the comp, there were a few games where we were right behind the eight ball and we sort of rode the crowd. So, you’ve won more games than you think it was going to be able for us.
Dinesh Karthik
Massive. It’s a team that waited 18 years, played a lot of good cricket, had to wait its time. But it belongs to every fan here because they’ve been waiting here. They’ve had a great time. They all cried their hearts out. There are a couple of support staff in our team, all these guys have waited 18 years. I’m very happy for them. Right from the start, we believed we were a team that was good. We had a lot of bases covered. We didn’t play the way we wanted.
I knew things would definitely work in our favour. And it’s great to see the boys stand up at different points of time. Even today, it was a high-pressure game. They really pushed us. It’s not an easy thing to bat on. But I think we put up a good performance.
Like I said, it wasn’t easy to bat. It was a bit of a good pitch. But, you know, this game, the final, it’s not about the pitch. It’s about the emotion. It’s about how much you have in your tank and the fire to win. And I think we had that a lot today. Great [on his own emotions]. A lot of credit to our support staff. I think we’ve been really good. It’s a very cliched thing to say at the end of the tournament, but I must say Andy Flower put us through the rigour.
He really pushed us. And I think it made us good support staff. Like, I’ve become a better batting coach than what I started. Obviously, it’s my first time. But the way he’s groomed me and helped me, more than that, the way from the start, he had a plan and a vision. And all of the pieces falling into place. And it’s great to see that’s the culmination of all the effort that all the boys have put in. Amazing work by the boys.
Jitesh Sharma
Sir, I can’t express anything right now. I’m very happy for Virat Kohli. Because he’s been waiting for this for 18 years. As a human, I can understand when a person waits for a trophy for 18 years. Wow. Like I said earlier, when you play for others, you do something extraordinary. When you play for yourself, you’re conserved and insecure. But when you want to do something for someone else, something magical happens. That’s what I was saying, sir. He’s standing right back there. He can’t believe what’s happened.
Mayank Agarawal
I think life is very unpredictable. If you can stay put, keep grinding, it can turn 360. And there’s a lesson for you.
Krunal Pandya [Player of the Match]
Again, when we batted the first innings, we realised I was sitting outside and again I had discussion with the batters and I realised that the slower you bowl, it is better and it is difficult. But again, in this format, as a bowler, you need sometimes guts to do that, you know, because the margin of error becomes very minimum, you know. But again, I just backed myself and thought that if I am able to vary my pace and keep it more on the slower side, I create chances rather than just coming and firing it up.
Yes, exactly [on picking up wickets and restricting the scoring rate]. Again, what has been my biggest strength is learning what is the situation is required and I have always backed my gut instinct. And today also I realised that if I am able to take couple of wickets in the middle, I have to be slightly brave enough, then the game will be much more in our hand. And again, I just thought that if I am able to deliver and if I am able to bowl slow, I will be able to get couple of wickets and glad that happened as well.
I mean, again, if you would have bowled quick on that surface, it would have been a good batting wicket. But if you would have kept wearing your pace, there was some help. And obviously, second inning slightly got better as well compared to first innings.
Again, when I joined RCB, I told that I love winning trophies and again after three and half months, glad that I was able to fulfill what I said on day one. I literally manifested and it has been pretty good, right? I mean, 10 years, 4 IPL trophies. I told Hardik also on the phone that even in the Pandya household, there will be 9 trophies in 11 years.
Read Also : RCB Fans Flood Bengaluru, Hyderabad Streets As Team Ends 18-Year-Long IPL Trophy Wait
