When Virat Kohli, one of India’s greatest cricketers, realized his 17-year dream of winning the Indian Premier League (IPL) title with his longtime team the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the moment brought tears to his eyes.
Overcome with emotion as the last ball was bowled, Kohli held his hands over his face in disbelief and punched the turf as his teammates celebrated.
“It’s been 18 long years,” the 36-year-old cricket legend told broadcasters afterward, his eyes still bloodshot. “It’s an unbelievable feeling. I never thought this day would come.”
His team, which he joined in the league’s inaugural season in 2008, had been to the final three times before without a win. Kohli has won multiple World Cups with India, but never the elusive IPL trophy — until Tuesday night.
“I’m someone that wants to win the big tournaments, the big moments, and this one was missing,” he said, adding that he was “going to sleep like a baby” following the win.
The celebrations over the Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s first league title were marred by tragedy when at least 11 people were killed in a stampede near the cricket stadium in Bengaluru on Wednesday, hours after the win.
Thousands of people had gathered outside to catch a glimpse of the returning players when dozens were trampled, leaving more than 30 injured.
This last sporting triumph to check off Kohli’s list came only a few weeks after his surprise announcement he was retiring from test matches, the traditional and longest format of international cricket, which is also considered the most prestigious.
The news shocked his fans across India and around the world, as they tried to come to terms with what the retirement might mean for India’s cricket team.
The legendary player and fan favourite, who has a whopping 273 million Instagram followers — the third highest for an athlete, after soccer stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi — has built a reputation as a highly competitive, snarling warrior on the pitch, dedicated to winning at all costs.
Kohli was “the incandescent heart of Indian cricket for over a decade,” wrote Greg Chappell, former Australian batting champion and onetime India coach, in a recent column for espncricinfo.com.
“He redefined expectations, challenged conventions, and symbolised the self-assured, unapologetic India of the 21st century,” Chappell said.
‘I felt like crying’
It was Kohli’s fire and dedication on the international pitch that inspired many fans.
“When I heard the announcement, I felt like crying,” Prachi Jajoo told CBC News, as she watched Kohli play on Tuesday at a bar in Mumbai. “It was really sudden and an emotional moment for everybody.”
“We’re never going to see him again in whites,” she added, referring to the white jerseys worn for test cricket matches.
Jajoo said she’ll mostly miss Kohli’s passion when he plays test matches for India.
“He’s the chase master, the run master. When he is required to, he plays very well under pressure.”
Other fans watching Tuesday’s IPL final at a bar in Mumbai were equally inconsolable about Kohli’s shock decision, even though they’d had several weeks to digest it.
“He changed everything” in test cricket, said 24-year-old uberfan Yashvi Shah.
“How to bowl, how to be aggressive, and then sledging people on the field,” she said, referring to the practice of verbally taunting opponents to throw them off their game.
“He’s a legend,” added Yashvi’s older sister, Dhruvi, 28.
“I’m not sure if I’ll continue watching [test] cricket because Virat Kohli is not going to be batting anymore,” she added with a laugh.
Looking for the next superstar
That’s a major worry for the federation that runs Indian cricket, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
They won’t say it openly, said K. Shiriniwas Rao, a sports editor for Times of India Group, but the BCCI “is not very comfortable at the thought of Virat Kohli quitting test cricket.”
“The bigger question that they’ve got to answer for themselves is: who exactly is the next superstar around which they’re going to brand the sport?”
According to Rao, the test cricket format, where matches typically last five days, needs more superstars like Kohli.
“It needs people who can bring crowds to the grounds … who can help build revenues … who can popularize the game across continents.”
Kohli is that kind of name, he added.
The star cricketer’s retirement news hit several days after India’s 38-year-old captain, Rohit Sharma, announced he was leaving test cricket.
That means the Indian side will start a tough five-test series tour of England later this month without their two most experienced batters.
“Two of the biggest names in the game have just walked away,” Rao said, leaving a large hole, even though the team has rising stars.
Rao said he’s “absolutely annoyed and angry” with Kohli for quitting test cricket, since the cricketer is fit enough to have another two or three solid years playing the longer format.
Other fans are more forgiving.
“It’s his decision,” said Deepak Jajoo. “We cannot force anyone to play.”
Not even a superstar like Kohli, who’s “given his all” for the love of the game.