RCB’s 18-Year Wait Ends in Glory: Victory Parade Set for Today in Bengaluru

Bengaluru, June 4: The streets of Bengaluru are set to turn red as the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) celebrate their historic maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title with a grand victory parade this evening. After an 18-year-long wait filled with near-misses and heartbreaks, RCB finally clinched their first-ever IPL trophy, defeating Punjab Kings in a thrilling final by six runs.

The victory parade will commence at 5:00 PM today, starting from the iconic Vidhana Soudha and culminating at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, where a grand celebration is scheduled around 6:00 PM. The RCB squad is expected to arrive in the city by 1:30 PM via HAL Airport after departing from Ahmedabad at 10:00 AM. Before the parade, the team will also visit the residence of Karnataka Chief Minister for a formal felicitation.

In the final match, RCB posted what initially seemed like a below-par score of 190 in their 20 overs. Virat Kohli led the batting effort with a composed 43 off 35 balls. Despite a strong start by Punjab Kings in their chase, a disciplined RCB bowling attack, particularly in the middle overs, turned the tide. Krunal Pandya starred with the ball, delivering a match-winning spell of 4-0-17-2 and earning the Player of the Match award.

Reflecting on the long-awaited triumph, RCB mentor and former India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik told commentator Matthew Hayden, “Massive. It's a team that's waited 18 years. ABD, Kohli, all tried their hearts out. We believed from the start that we were good enough. Final wasn’t about the pitch; we needed that fire in the belly — and we had it.”

The win has not only ended years of fan frustration but also sparked jubilation across Bengaluru and beyond. Chants of “Ee Sala Cup Namde” — a slogan that has become symbolic of RCB's fanbase — have finally turned into reality.

Heavy turnout is expected at today’s parade, and city officials have advised commuters to plan alternate routes due to traffic restrictions in key central areas. Police and civic authorities have made extensive arrangements to ensure safety and crowd control.

As Bengaluru prepares to celebrate its team’s moment of glory, the triumph stands as a testament to resilience, belief, and an undying passion for the game.