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By:

C.S. Krishnamurthy

21 June 2025 at 2:15:51 pm

Ee Sala, Again Namde

For years, Royal Challengers Bengaluru supporters carried hope the way a pilgrim carries a lamp through a storm. The flame flickered, but it never went out. Last year, at the Narendra Modi Stadium, RCB finally broke 18-year drought and lifted their maiden IPL trophy. Many wondered whether it was the end of a long journey. But on Sunday night, it turned out to be the beginning of something even bigger. By defeating Gujarat Titans by five wickets in the IPL 2026 final, RCB not only won their...

Ee Sala, Again Namde

For years, Royal Challengers Bengaluru supporters carried hope the way a pilgrim carries a lamp through a storm. The flame flickered, but it never went out. Last year, at the Narendra Modi Stadium, RCB finally broke 18-year drought and lifted their maiden IPL trophy. Many wondered whether it was the end of a long journey. But on Sunday night, it turned out to be the beginning of something even bigger. By defeating Gujarat Titans by five wickets in the IPL 2026 final, RCB not only won their second title but also retained the crown. They entered a select club and took another confident step towards building a legacy worthy of the league's most celebrated champions. As I watched the final unfold, it felt less like a cricket match and more like a masterclass in planning and execution. Finals are won by discipline, and RCB displayed it in abundance. The contest could not have started better for Bengaluru. Gujarat’s formidable opening pair of Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan had tormented bowlers throughout the tournament. Yet RCB managed to detach both engines before the train could gather speed. At 26 for 2, Gujarat were already wobbling. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood struck early, while Rasikh Salam continued his remarkable rise with crucial breakthroughs. His three wickets ensured Gujarat never found complete control. Then came Krunal Pandya. Every successful team has a player who works like a silent ceiling fan. Nobody notices him constantly, but everyone feels the difference when he stops. Krunal has been exactly that for RCB this season. His economical spell and the dismissal of Jos Buttler once again highlighted his immense value. Washington Sundar’s unbeaten fifty gave Gujarat something respectable to defend, but 155 never looked intimidating on a surface that rewarded sensible batting. Still, finals have a habit of producing nervous moments. Calm Pursuit RCB’s chase began like a sports car leaving a traffic signal. Impact substitute Venkatesh Iyer exploded out of the blocks with a sparkling 32 off just 16 balls. His innings immediately shifted pressure onto Gujarat. By the time he departed, the foundation had been firmly laid. And then the chase master took over. Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 75 was a reminder of why he remains one of the greatest competitors, cricket has ever seen. Over the years, Kohli has evolved with the demands of T20 cricket. This season he scored 600 runs at a strike rate that would satisfy even the most demanding modern analyst. In the final, he blended aggression with control beautifully. Watching Kohli chase a target is like watching an experienced banker balance a complicated ledger. Every risk is calculated and every over has a purpose. There was no panic when wickets fell. There was no rush when Gujarat briefly tightened the screws. Kohli simply kept moving the scoreboard forward, converting pressure into opportunity. Tim David’s brisk contribution ensured there would be no late drama. Jitesh Sharma calmly completed the formalities as RCB reached the target with two overs to spare. What perhaps makes this title more satisfying than the first is the manner in which it was achieved. For years, critics accused RCB of being overly dependent on a handful of superstars. That criticism can no longer survive examination. This championship was built by a collective. Rajat Patidar provided leadership. Devdutt Padikkal offered consistency. Tim David delivered finishing power. Bhuvneshwar Kumar supplied experience. Hazlewood contributed control. Krunal added balance. Rasikh emerged as a revelation. Even when Kohli shone brightest, there was always someone else carrying part of the load. That is the hallmark of great teams. Legacy Beckons Sport has a charming way of rewarding persistence. The bamboo tree spends years strengthening its roots before shooting skyward. The franchise spent nearly two decades collecting heartbreaks, memes, near misses and painful memories. Yet its supporters remained loyal. They filled stadiums, wore red jerseys proudly and continued believing. Today, those supporters are enjoying the sweetest chapter in franchise history. Back-to-back titles have transformed RCB from sentimental favourites into genuine heavyweights. The team that once chased history is now creating it. As fireworks illuminated Ahmedabad's night sky, one thought lingered. The cup is no longer visiting Bengaluru. It appears to have found a permanent address. And somewhere in the sea of red, millions of smiling fans were probably saying the same four magical words once again: “Ee Sala Cup Namde.” Only this time, nobody could argue. (The writer is a retired banker and author. Views personal.)

Knives out in legislature

Updated: Mar 21, 2025

Disha Salian

Mumbai: Death of celebrity manager Disha Salian in 2020 once again rocked the Maharashtra legislature on Thursday. While cabinet ministers Nitesh Rane and Shambhuraj Desai demanded that Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray be arrested in the case, BJP MLA Amit Satam in the assembly and another BJP member Chitra Wagh in the council demanded that the report of SIT to probe Salian’s death be made public.


Incidentally, amidst repeated disruptions in both the houses, some members from the treasury benches were seen speaking in favour of Aditya Thackeray, while Shiv Sena (UBT) members like Adv Anil Parab were seen supporting the BJP members’ demand that the report of the SIT probe be made public. In addition, there were allegations and counter allegations and personal accusations among members from the treasury and opposition benches which led to heated debate on occasions.


The opposition termed the attempts from the treasury benches to link Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray’s name in the case, as a ‘conspiracy’.


“I think this matter has gone to the court. We have no idea what he (Disha’s father) has said, but Aaditya Thackeray is a mature leader, a young leader. The Bharatiya Janata Party is conspiring to defame him by putting pressure on him. We don’t need to answer to this conspiracy. The court will answer,” Ambadas Danve said.


Earlier in the day, when the house gathered for the business, Minister of State for Home appraised the assembly of the status in this case. “SIT has been formed to probe in the case. Their report has not been received as yet. However, the government shall act according to directives from the court,” the minister told the house.


Another BJP minister Nitesh Rane, however, said that since Satish Salian has levelled allegations against an MVA minister, that leader be treated like a common person and that everybody should be treated equally before the law. Shiv Sena minister Shambhuraj Desai too supported the demand. “Since the allegations are grave, the person in question should be immediately arrested and the case be investigated,” he said.


Later, while speaking to media in the legislature premises, Rane asked Uddhav Thackeray to come clean on the issue. “If they say that we are politicizing the issue, Uddhav Thackeray should also tell the people why he had called, not just once but twice, to the then union minister Narayan Rane urging him to save his son?” Rane said.


He also accused the opposition of shying away from coming clean on the issue. “If they feel that we are not telling the truth, they should say so in the house. But they are shying away from doing so. Bhaskar Jadhav, who is always aggressive, was nowhere to be seen when this issue came up in the house. Sunil Prabhu too escaped the house under the pretext of a phone call. I challenge them to say that whatever I said on the issue is wrong,” Rane said.


He also said that Aditya Thackeray should resign on moral grounds till his name is cleared in the case.


BJP MLA Amit Satam demanded that the details of the SIT probe be made public so that the people would know if the probe is headed in right direction.


Interestingly, while the ruling parties were targeting the opposition in the case, senior BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar surprised all with his unexpected support to Thackerays. “I do not have any evidences in the case. But if her father has made any fresh allegations that needs to be investigated thoroughly. The assembly can discuss the issue at length tomorrow. In the meanwhile, members like Rane, who seem to have some evidences in the case should hand them over to the investigating agencies and help the probe,” he told the house.


Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Gaikwad and Sheetal Mhatre too toed the line and demanded that more and more evidences should come forth.


Similarly, when members of treasury benches were pushing for revealing the details of the probe till date to the public, Shiv Sena (UBT) member Anil Parab supported the demand. “Doing that shall conclusively prove the innocence of Aditya Thackeray,” he said.

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