Bengaluru IPL bash: Deputy CM DK Shivakumar receives Virat Kohli, RCB at airport
The victorious Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) team received a hero's welcome as they touched down in Bengaluru, a day after ending their 18-year-long wait for the Indian Premier League crown.Thousands of jubilant fans thronged the streets to catch a glimpse of the newly-crowned champions, while Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar personally received star players such as Virat Kohli and captain Rajat Patidar at the airport on Wednesday, 4 June.advertisementRCB IPL victory celebrations in Bengaluru: Live Updates
Virat Kohli was seen proudly carrying the Karnataka flag alongside D.K. Shivakumar as they exited the airport. While the Deputy CM proceeded to the Vidhana Soudha-where the players are set to be felicitated by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah-the team headed to their hotel for a brief rest.RCB players, wearing customised 'Champions' T-shirts, finally brought the coveted IPL trophy home, marking a historic moment for the franchise.Dreaming of this moment for 18 years and it's finally here, bigger, better than we ever imagined, ;- !#RoyalChallengersBengaluru #RCB pic.twitter.com/h3XmK766Gc— DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) June 4, 2025Virat Kohli and his teammates were welcomed at the team hotel with garlands and a shower of flower petals.A GRAND WELCOME AT HOTEL FOR VIRAT KOHLI AND RCB. pic.twitter.com/jcWL6M479D— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) June 4, 2025advertisementThe M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, which will host a special ceremony to honour fans, began filling up as early as 4:00 PM IST, hours before the scheduled event.The team had departed from Ahmedabad, the venue of Tuesday's IPL final, around 10:00 AM IST and landed in Bengaluru by 2:00 PM IST. They reached their hotel at approximately 3:30 PM IST before preparing for their meeting with the Chief Minister.Whether the much-anticipated open-top bus parade will go ahead remains uncertain. While Virat Kohli hinted at it during the day, the Bengaluru traffic police have expressed concerns over potential congestion. However, the parade could still proceed if the Chief Minister grants special permission, as the open-top bus remains parked near his office.The planned route for the parade would cover the short 1 km stretch from the Vidhana Soudha to the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
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