By the time Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) crossed the 150-run mark in the IPL final on Sunday night (May 31, 2026), the mood on Visakhapatnam’s Beach Road had already begun to shift. Cricket followers, many glued to big screens and their mobile phones moments earlier, started making their way towards the city’s waterfront, sensing that another title was within RCB’s grasp.

What unfolded over the next few hours was not merely a celebration of a franchise victory. It was, in many ways, a tribute to Virat Kohli.

As crowds swelled along the beachfront, the iconic No. 18 jersey emerged as the defining symbol of the night. Youngsters held it aloft above their heads, waved it from moving vehicles and passed it around like a cherished relic. Many waved jerseys bearing the iconic No. 18, with chants of “Virat Kohli” and “RCB” reverberating across the beachfront. Mobile phone flashlights illuminated banners and jerseys as supporters recorded memories they were unlikely to forget.

The scenes reflected the unique nature of RCB’s support base. For a generation of cricket followers, the franchise’s identity has become inseparable from Kohli’s. In the final, the former India captain once again delivered on the biggest stage, remaining unbeaten on 75 off 42 balls and guiding RCB to a five-wicket victory over Gujarat Titans. The innings earned him the Player of the Match award and helped Bengaluru secure a second successive IPL title.

Kohli’s appeal extends far beyond the franchise. At cricket coaching camps across Visakhapatnam, children routinely name him among their foremost role models, alongside stalwarts such as M. S. Dhoni and Rohit Sharma. On Sunday night, however, it was Kohli who occupied centre stage, as admiration for the batter found public expression along the city’s seafront.

Firecrackers lit up sections of Beach Road as supporters erupted into cheers. Some danced atop vehicles, others carried replica trophies through the crowd. Police personnel, anticipating sizeable gatherings, maintained a visible presence along key stretches of the road and at major junctions. Their deployment helped regulate traffic and restore order to the celebrations, even as hundreds converged on the beachfront after the result became all but certain.

As midnight approached, the festivities showed little sign of abating. Along a shoreline accustomed to evening strolls and quiet conversations, one name echoed repeatedly into the night air: Virat Kohli.