Punjab stand in way of Kohli's dream as IPL awaits new winners

Punjab Kings stand in the way of Virat Kohli’s dream of finally winning the Indian Premier League in Tuesday’s final at the world’s biggest cricket stadium.

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No matter which team prevails at the 132,000-capacity Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad it will be a first — neither Punjab nor Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bengaluru have won the IPL since it launched in 2008.

Punjab booked their place in the decider with a five-wicket victory over five-time champions Mumbai Indians on Sunday.

Shreyas Iyer played a captain’s knock with an unbeaten 87.

Kohli and Bengaluru will have a psychological edge after thrashing Punjab by eight wickets at the start of the playoffs last week.

It is the fourth time that Kohli, who has been with RCB since the very first edition in 2008 and captained the side from 2013 to 2021, and his team have reached the final of cricket’s richest tournament, but they have never been able to take that last step.

The vast majority in attendance will be cheering on Kohli, the 36-year-old superstar batsman and icon to Indian cricket fans.

Kohli, who last month retired from Test cricket alongside Rohit Sharma, has again been Bengaluru’s go-to batsman with 614 runs, including eight half-centuries, in 14 innings this season.

He has made no attempt to hide his desperation to win the IPL at the 18th attempt and add it to a long list of accolades that includes two World Cup crowns.