‘First thing I did upon landing…': How Shashi Tharoor, other politicians reacted to RCB's maiden IPL victory
The streets of Bengaluru echoed with the sound of crackers and chants of 'Ee Sala Cup Namde' (this time the cup is ours) on Tuesday night, as Royal Challengers Bengaluru or RCB clinched their first-ever Indian Premier League (IPL) title, ending an 18-year-long quest for the trophy.
Excited fans and youth flooded the streets, celebrating the momentous win with firecrackers and spirited slogans, especially hailing star players like Virat Kohli. The celebrations were not just limited to fans — leaders across political parties took to social media to congratulate the team on their historic achievement.
RCB secured the title with a narrow six-run win over Punjab Kings in the final held in Ahmedabad, putting an end to nearly two decades of anticipation.
After finishing second in the group stage, RCB stormed into the final with a commanding eight-wicket victory in Qualifier 1 against table-toppers PBKS. Punjab Kings later defeated Mumbai Indians to reach their second-ever IPL final, where they once again fell short — this time to a determined RCB side.
Tejaswi Surya and Shashi Tharoor cheer RCB from Washington DC: BJP MP Tejaswi Surya, who is part of India's multi-party delegation led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, shared a video on X celebrating RCB's victory. The two were in Washington DC when the match concluded.
Surya said, "We were on the flight when news of RCB's win came through, but the first thing we checked after landing was this."
He added, "I am with Shashi Tharoor, who is also an RCB supporter."
Both leaders expressed their joy in the video and called the win a momentous occasion. Surya posted the clip on X with the caption: 'Wishing RCB from Washington DC upon our touchdown.'
In a separate post, Shashi Tharoor wrote, 'First thing I did upon landing in Washington was to check the #IPLFinal score. Very happy for @imVkohli that he #18 laid his hands on the trophy after 18 years of service! Congratulations #RCB! #ViratKohli.'
CM Siddaramaiah's Rrrrrrrrr.... Cccccccc.... Bbbbbbbbb....' chant: Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah lauded the historic victory and called it a fulfilment of a long-held dream. He posted: 'Congratulations to Royal Challengers Bengaluru on a historic IPL triumph. The dream has finally come true – Ee Sala Cup Namde!'
He added, "From electrifying performances to unshakable spirit, this triumph has ignited the pride of Karnataka and thrilled fans across the world."
DK Shivakumar says 'An emotional moment for the RCB Army': Deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar called RCB's victory more than just a win — an emotional milestone for fans. He said: 'This is more than a win - it's an emotional moment for the entire RCB Army.' And added: 'Ee Sala Cup Namde! Huge congratulations to RCB on this unforgettable, historic victory in the IPLFinals. 18 years of passion, loyalty, and never giving up - and tonight, it all came together!'
HD Kumaraswamy says it is 'a win for fans who never gave up': Union minister and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy praised the team's resilience and credited fans for their unwavering support. He said, 'What a moment for Bengaluru, Karnataka and cricket lovers across the nation! RCB emerges victorious — a testament to grit, belief, and the spirit of Karnataka.' He added that he was proud of the team for creating history and saluted the fans who stood by RCB for 18 years.
Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav: MP CM congratulated RCB and highlighted the role of Indore's Rajat Patidar in the team's success saying, 'Hearty congratulations and best wishes to @RCBTweets team on becoming the winner for the first time with an unprecedented victory in #IPLFinal match. The team achieving top success under the leadership of Rajat Patidar of Indore is a moment of immense joy, celebration and pride for all of us residents of Madhya Pradesh. The new talents of cricket performed brilliantly, best wishes to all of you for a bright future.'
Rishi Sunak cheers RCB live from Ahmedabad: Former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak attended the IPL final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, along with his wife Akshata Murty, to support RCB. He posted a selfie on X and wrote, "Let's go @RCBTweets."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
29 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Ricky Ponting supports Jasprit Bumrah exclusion, calls BCCI's decision ‘spot on': 'I think the timing is right...'
The BCCI selection committee's decision to name Shubman Gill as the captain ahead of the experienced Jasprit Bumrah, who even led India in two Tests during the recent Australia tour, did not sit well with many experts. However, former Australia captain Ricky Ponting jumped to the defence of the BCCI, saying that the decision was absolutely spot on and that the timing to bring in Gill couldn't have been better. The Test captaincy was Bumrah's for the taking, having led India thrice before, including twice in Australia in the last season, where India won in Perth in the absence of regular captain Rohit Sharma. However, a back injury in the Sydney Test, which later saw him miss the Champions Trophy, left the selectors concerned and subsequently dented his chances of taking over the reins in Test cricket. Speaking on the ICC Review, Ponting said BCCI was right in naming Gill as the captain because he felt India shouldn't have a captain who could be missing matches repeatedly due to injuries. He also urged the selectors to give Gill a lengthy rope as a captain. "I actually think it's the right move. I know there's a lot of other people out there, pundits out there saying they can't understand why it wasn't Bumrah and why they have gone to Shubman, but I think it's pretty simple," Ponting said. "Bumrah's injuries are holding him back a bit in the last couple of years and you don't want that with a captain. You can't have a captain coming in and missing games here and there. So I think it's the right decision. Now that they've made it, it's one they've got to stick with and give him a good crack at it for a long period of time." Having seen Gill from close quarters in IPL, where the youngster has been leading the Gujarat Titans squad since 2024, Ponting felt the timing to name him the Test captain couldn't have been better. "Even just looking back at the way he's handled this current GT team through this IPL, I think leadership sits really well with him," Ponting said. "And the important thing for me with leadership as well is if you're a batter and you're a captain, you have to be scoring runs. And Shubman is doing that in IPL and I think the timing is right. I think you'll have a good captain who'll make a lot of Test runs going forward."
Time of India
43 minutes ago
- Time of India
Virat Kohli to revoke Test retirement and make a comeback? Michael Clarke's bold prediction sparks buzz
After the high-octane Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 final, the focus now shifts to the upcoming five-match Test series between India and England. The Indian Test squad has flown to England to begin preparations for the new cycle of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–27. As anticipation builds for the series—set to begin on June 20 at Headingley—the team will undoubtedly feel the absence of legends Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. However, former Australian captain Michael Clarke has made a bold prediction, suggesting that Kohli might come out of retirement and make a comeback. Virat Kohli to make a Test comeback? The 'King' stepped away from red-ball cricket on May 12, bringing an end to an illustrious 14-year career in the format. In over 123 Tests, he scored 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, with 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries to his name. While he recently also helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) get their first-ever IPL title, Kohli admitted that the triumph still pales in comparison to the emotional weight of Test cricket. Michael Clarke believes that if India suffers a heavy defeat in the upcoming series—potentially even a 5-0 whitewash—the pressure from fans and the broader cricketing community could push Virat Kohli to reconsider his Test retirement. Speaking on the Beyond23 Cricket podcast, Clarke reflected on Kohli's deep love for the traditional format. He suggested that if Indian cricket hits a rough patch during the England series, there's a genuine chance Kohli could be persuaded to return—provided the selectors, captain, and fans are behind the idea. "If India gets hammered in England—say they lose 5-0—I wouldn't be surprised if there's a strong public push for Kohli to return," Clarke said. "He's still passionate about Test cricket. If there's a call from the captain, selectors, and fan support, I think he'd seriously consider it." Clarke also spoke about the simultaneous retirement of Rohit Sharma, calling him a sharp tactician and praising his leadership. "With Rohit stepping away from Tests and Kohli too, it's a huge loss for red-ball cricket," Clarke noted. "Test cricket will undoubtedly miss both of them." Michael Clarke on the stampede in Bengaluru The former Aussie legend also expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families affected by the tragic stampede that occurred outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Wednesday, June 4, during RCB's IPL 2025 victory celebrations. Reflecting on the incident, the former Australian captain emphasized the importance of safety during large public gatherings. "It's devastating. Hopefully, we never see something like this again," Clarke said. "Fans and players should be able to celebrate such moments together, but it has to be done safely. My thoughts are with all the families affected. It was a tragic end to what had been an incredible season."
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
"They are dragging Pahalgam attack, Prayagraj stampede into Bengaluru stampede": Kumaraswamy accuses Karnataka govt of diversionary tactics
Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Saturday demanded clarity from the Karnataka government regarding its investigation into the stampede outside M Chinnaswamy Stadium. He also accused the Congress-led government of 'dragging in' the Pahalgam terrorist attack and the Prayagraj stampede to deflect criticism over its own failures. "The government is making decisions every hour on the stampede issue. What will they do in the end? First, there was a judicial investigation. Now there is a CID investigation . Finally, they will get the investigation report. What is this government doing? If any decision is made, there should be clarity," Kumaraswamy told reporters. "The government is a complete are dragging Pahalgam and Prayagraj here for the mistakes they made. What is the connection between the Pahalgam incident and this?" he added. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like War Thunder - Register now for free and play against over 75 Million real Players War Thunder Play Now Undo Earlier, top senior officials of Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), secretary A Shankar and treasurer ES Jairam, tendered their resignations from their posts, taking "moral responsibility" for the stampede that took place near M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday ahead of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) team's felicitation after winning their Indian Premier League ( IPL ) title by defeating Punjab Kings (PBKS) in a tight final on Tuesday. As per ESPNCricinfo, the resignation has been submitted to the president of the board, Raghuram Bhat. Live Events Also in Bengaluru, CID officials paid a visit to KSCA office, with the state government having ordered a CID probe into the stampede case. The stampede left 11 people dead and several others injured. Communicating to KSCA on Friday night, both Shankar and Jairam wrote as quoted by ESPNCricinfo, "Due to the unforeseen and unfortunate events that have unfolded in the last two days, and though our role was very limited, but owing moral responsibility, we wish to state that last night we have tendered our resignation to our respective posts as secretary and treasurer of the KSCA." The Bengaluru Police also filed a first information report (FIR) against the popular IPL franchise on Thursday. The police have said that RCB was not given permission to conduct the event at the stadium. RCB has been listed as the first accused in the FIR, along with DNA Entertainment, the franchise's event partners, and the KSCA, which is in control of the stadium. On Friday, the cops also confirmed the arrest of RCB's marketing and revenue head Nikhil Sosale, while acting on directives of newly appointed police commissioner SK Singh, who took over after his predecessor was removed by the chief minister Siddaramaiah after the incident.
