Virat Kohli with Shreyas Iyer's father (Video grab)
NEW DELHI: Virat Kohli and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) finally ended an 18-year-long wait for the Indian Premier League (IPL) title, defeating Punjab Kings by six runs in a dramatic final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Tuesday.While Kohli top-scored with a composed 43 and RCB basked in the glory of their maiden IPL title, it was a heartfelt post-match moment that stole the spotlight on social media. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!In a video that quickly went viral, Kohli was seen bowing his head and taking blessings from Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer's father before embracing Shreyas himself. The emotional gesture struck a deep chord with fans across the country, showcasing the respect and sportsmanship that define Kohli's character beyond the game.
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Do you think crowd management during RCB’s victory celebrations could have been better to prevent the tragedy?
Yes, better crowd control was neededNo, it was an unfortunate accident despite precautions
The visual of the RCB talisman humbly greeting Iyer's father amid the euphoric celebrations on the field symbolised the spirit of cricket at its finest — even in victory, there was grace, humility, and compassion.Unfortunately, the celebrations took a tragic turn the next day in Bengaluru. During a public event near the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium to celebrate RCB's historic win, a stampede broke out due to overcrowding, resulting in the death of 11 people and injuries to 33 others.
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Kohli, visibly shaken by the tragedy, took to Instagram to share his grief: “At a loss for words. Absolutely gutted.” His message echoed the sorrow felt by the entire RCB family and cricketing community.
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