Former Royal Challengers Bengaluru batter Ross Taylor congratulated the franchise after they lifted their maiden IPL title. RCB defeated Punjab Kings in IPL 2025 final by six runs at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Tuesday.
Taylor, the former New Zealand batter, recalled RCB were one game away from winning the IPL 2009 title but suffered a six-run loss against Deccan Chargers.
Ross Taylor wrote on Instagram, “I was there in the very first season back in 2008, when the journey began. Just a year later, in 2009, we were one game away from lifting the trophy that final still feels like yesterday. To see @royalchallengers.bengaluru finally win it after all these years fills me with immense pride. So many great players have worn that jersey. I know all of us are celebrating this moment with the fans today.”
Taylor gave his congratulations to Virat Kohli and said the superstar has been the face of the franchise for so many years.
“Special congratulations to @virat.kohli . You’ve been the face of RCB, carrying the hopes of millions with unmatched dedication and belief. No one deserves this more,” he added.
Meanwhile, RCB were able to come up with a collective show to end their title drought. All-rounder Krunal Pandya was the star of the show as he returned with impressive figures of 2-17 in his quota of four overs while defending 191. Pandya accounted for Prabhsimran Singh and got the big wicket of Josh Inglis.
Pandya said after the win, “When we batted, we realised the slower you bowl the better it is. In this format, you need guts to do it. I just backed myself, thought I’ll vary my pace and keep it on the slower side more often. My biggest strength has been to learn what the situation requires. I knew I had to be brave to get wickets tonight.”
“Thought I’d do that by bowling slow. If you’d have bowled quick, it’d have been a good wicket. But if you mixed it up it was tougher. Pitch actually got easier in the second innings. Have enjoyed my time with RCB so far, I said on day one I wanted to win. I told Hardik too that the Pandya household will have nine trophies in 11 years,” he added.
Meanwhile, RCB’s victory celebrations turned fatal as 11 people reportedly died in a stampede outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday.
