Finally

• The Indian Premier League (IPL) was first played by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on April 18, 2008.

• The franchise had three runner-up finishes in subsequent editions.

• Rajat Patidar’s team claimed the title with a six-run victory over Punjab Kings in the IPL’s 18th edition.

• The victory was a tribute to Virat Kohli’s longevity, who has been with the squad since its first game in 2008.

• The team’s performance was aided by Patidar’s assurance, Kohli’s experience, spinner Krunal Pandya’s spells, and Josh Hazlewood’s pace.

• Punjab Kings, led by captain Shreyas Iyer, performed well, indicating a larger role for the Indian ODI team.

• Mumbai Indians surged back and found a berth in the play-offs, alongside Gujarat Titans.

• The IPL also mirrored the decline of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), which finished last.

• The IPL was a challenging league, with a break due to the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Indoor.

• The league highlighted talented players like young Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Sai Sudharsan.