Virat Kohli had a special message for his fans after the Royal Challengers Bengaluru won the title for the maiden time with a six-run win over Punjab Kings.

Kohli had led India to the 2008 U19 World Cup by the time the inaugural season of the IPL began, but the Indian cricketing world was not yet ready to accept Kohli as a young prodigy. It took them some time to see the genius of Kohli, but even then Kohli was famous but was not loved. However, he remained a persuasive conversational centrepiece.

There's a new IPL champion in town. After 18 years of pain, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Virat Kohli have finally won the trophy. After the trophy presentation, Kohli soaked in the win, walking into the RCB dressing room arm in arm with his former team-mate AB de Villiers.