Warner’s Sunrisers break Kohli’s heart at home, win maiden IPL title

Sunrisers inflict RCB’s third defeat in final after their famed batting unit falters in chase

The batting display of Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli has been the biggest talking point in the ninth edition of Indian Premier League (IPL). The 27-year-old demolished every individual batting statistic this season, bringing up a few in the final on Sunday.

Sunrisers Hyderabad skipper David Warner is over the moon after leading his team to victory from the front in the IPL final against RCB on Sunday. (PTI)

All that remained was for him to clinch the first IPL title for him and his team to cap an exemplary season. However, it ended in heartbreak on home turf as David Warner’s Sunrisers Hyderabad clinched an eight-run victory in a nervy, high-scoring final played in front of a packed M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Sunrisers rejoiced after their bowlers held their own against the imposing RCB batting unit. The Hyderabad side were the first team to elect to bat first after winning the toss in Bengaluru this season, but emerged the sixth winner after electing to bat first in nine editions.

RCB batting tamed

Set a steep target of 209 to chase, it was left to the Kohli-led batting unit to achieve their biggest target of the season in the biggest game, having lost two finals, in 2009 and 2011.

His dismissal ruled out any more reasons to celebrate as the rest of the batting unit crumbled under the pressure of maintaining a high run-rate. AB De Villiers and Shane Watson tried to push the score, but caved in under pressure.

Sunrisers’ bowlers played their part professionally. Buoyed by the return of the in-form Mustafizur Rahman, they didn’t let go once they had the game in their grip.

Warner again laid the foundation, but his dismissal threatened to undermine the innings as wickets kept tumbling. A few lusty blows by Ben Cutting, taking apart the listless Shane Watson, ensured a solid total.

RCB took the game to the final over, needing 18 to win, but the hopes of the home fans had receded by then. A few dropped catches added to the tension, but it proved too big an ask in the end.

It had been touted as a contest between Royal Challengers’ batting and Sunrisers Hyderabad’s bowling attack. Quite aptly it came down that as the two sides vied for their maiden title, with RCB holding the edge playing at home. In the end, the Sunrisers bowlers stole Kohli’s thunder.