The kind of joy that only comes after 18 years of hope, heartbreak, memes, and near-misses finally ends with a trophy in hand. The pride on AB de Villiers’ face mirrored the emotion felt by every RCB fan last night — the ones who had waited almost two decades to live this dream.
And it wasn’t just AB soaking in the moment — Chris Gayle, the other RCB legend, was there too. Ahmedabad turned into a nostalgia HQ. And when the holy trinity of Gayle, Kohli, and de Villiers lifted that IPL trophy together, it felt like the Avengers assembled for one final heist.
Mission: Completed.
This trophy is as much Virat’s as it is de Villiers’ and Gayle’s.
Because this isn’t just a trio — it’s a time-travelling, six-hitting, crowd-lifting bromance. These were the OGs who gave everything they had so that RCB could one day touch that elusive trophy. Gayle and ABD may have retired without breaking the curse, but RCB’s management made sure that when history was finally made, these two were front and center, celebrating like they’d never left.
They’re not just former players — they’re walking, talking IPL folklore. Think about it: both retired in 2021, and yet they still hold some of the most iconic records in IPL history.
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ABD and Gayle are still No. 1 and 2 in terms of most Man of the Match awards — 25 and 22, respectively.
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Mr. 360’s strike rate in death overs? A blazing 232.5 — still the highest among players with 100+ balls faced.
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And Gayle’s 30-ball century in 2013? Still untouched. Still unmatched. Still unreal.
These are just a few of the records people remember. But there are countless matches these two won single-handedly for RCB — moments that turned fans into believers. But the most special moment? Tuesday night’s win.
They may not have been on the field, but Gayle and ABD felt every bit of that victory. And when they danced on the podium with Kohli like no time had passed, it hit differently. Because once an RCBian, always an RCBian.
