"It's been 18 long years," an emotional Kohli, still with bloodshot eyes, told the broadcasters.
No matter which team prevails at the 132,000-capacity venue in Ahmedabad it will be a first -- neither Punjab nor Kohli's Royal Challengers Bengaluru have won the IPL since it launched in 2008.
The IPL will resume on Saturday after India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire following days of fighting between the nuclear-armed neighbours.
Bangladesh left-arm pacer, who went unsold in the IPL auction earlier this year, finds himself back in the league following unforeseen changes in team compositions due to the ongoing India-Pakistan conflict.
“The war has stopped. In this new situation, BCCI office bearers, officials, and the IPL governing council will meet tomorrow (Sunday) to discuss the best way forward,” BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla stated in an interview with PTI Videos.
Cricket officials decided to pause the T20 tournament after a match on Thursday was abandoned in Dharamsala, less than 200 kilometres (125 miles) from the town of Jammu, where explosions were reported hours earlier.
Chasing 158 for victory, Bengaluru were propelled by a 103-run second-wicket stand between Kohli, who made an unbeaten 73, and Padikkal to reach their target with seven balls to spare at Mullanpur, near Chandigarh.
Punjab Kings bowlers steamrolled through the Royal Challengers Bengaluru's batting order to secure a five-wicket victory in a rain-reduced IPL match on Friday.
Left-arm quick Starc kept Rajasthan down to 188-4 in response to Delhi's 188-5 and then returned to bowl another disciplined over at the Feroz Shah Kotla ground.
Former India captain M.S. Dhoni rolled back the years with an unbeaten 26 as Chennai Super Kings bounced back from five losses to down Lucknow Super Giants by five wickets in the IPL on Monday.
Batting great Virat Kohli struck his 100th half-century in T20 cricket to steer Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a thumping nine-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals on Sunday.
Sunil Narine starred with both the bat and the ball as Kolkata Knight Riders thrashed Chennai Super Kings by eight wickets to regain their winning momentum in the Indian Premier League on Friday.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru's star man Virat Kohli continues to register new records as he became the first player in Indian Premier League history to smash 1000 boundaries.
Veteran batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni will lead Chennai Super Kings for the remainder of the Indian Premier League season after an injury ruled out Ruturaj Gaikwad, coach Stephen Fleming said Thursday.
Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal struck form with an attacking 67 to lead Rajasthan Royals to a crushing 50-run win over Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League on Saturday.
The MA Chidambaram Stadium witnessed a rare and emotional moment as MS Dhoni’s entire family—wife Sakshi, daughter Ziva, and for the first time ever, his parents Pan Singh and Devaki Devi—gathered to support him during the IPL 2025 clash between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Delhi Capitals (DC)
India batter Venkatesh Iyer smashed 60 off 29 balls to fire holders Kolkata Knight Riders to a 80-run hammering of Sunrisers Hyderabad in a comeback IPL win on Thursday.
England failed to retain their T20 and ODI World Cup crowns with Buttler at the helm and the 34-year-old stepped down as white-ball captain in February following their group-stage exit in the Champions Trophy.
“Rain or shine, Ashwani never missed his training,” recalls Harkesh Kumar, struggling to hold back tears.
