The two legends who increased Kohli's joy at IPL victory '10-fold'

Chris Gayle posted a picture of himself going to India to watch the IPL final while he was on the plane. AB de Villiers did not post any pictures on his social media handle. He quietly left for India. Both of them were seen in the gallery of the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad last night. They were also seen on the field after the match. Seeing the framed picture of these two legends with Virat Kohli, nostalgic fans of Royal Challengers Bangalore can say 'Holy Trinity!'

The fans called the three of them together by this name when de Villiers and Chris Gayle played in Bengaluru. Chris Gayle played for Bengaluru from 2011 to 2017 and scored 3163 runs in 84 innings. 5 centuries and 19 fifties. Chris Gayle, of course, also played for Punjab. In last night's final, he supported Bengaluru as well as Punjab. In addition to wearing the Bengaluru jersey, Chris Gayle also went to the field wearing a Punjabi turban.

De Villiers played for Bengaluru from 2011 to 2021. He scored 4491 runs in 156 matches. The Proteas legend stood outside the boundary in the last two overs of yesterday's match. Kohli got emotional after seeing him from the field. After Bengaluru's victory, Caribbean legend Chris Gayle also joined them in their celebrations on the field. In an interview given to the broadcaster channel on the field, Virat Kohli said that the presence of the two made the joy of winning the title "10 times more special".

The three legends also celebrated in front of the broadcaster's cameras. Bangalore's long-standing slogan was 'Ae Sala Kap Namde (This time the cup will be ours)!' After a wait of 18 years, the three legends changed the slogan by shouting in front of cameras and microphones, 'Ae Sala Kap Namdu (This time the cup will be ours)!'

Virat Kohli has a great match-winning partnership with de Villiers in the IPL. Virat Kohli said about him, 'What he has done for the franchise (Bengaluru) is extraordinary. Before the match, I told him, what this match is for us, it is for you too and I want you to celebrate with us when we lift the trophy. Because, what he has done for RCB is really special.'

About the Protea legend, Virat Kohli also said, 'He has won the most Man of the Match awards and has been retired for four years. His impact on this team is clear...I can't really express in words how much he means to the people of Bengaluru and to this team. That's why I said, he deserves to stand on the podium with us and lift the trophy.'

Kohli also spoke about being emotional when he saw de Villiers out of bounds in the last two overs. Referring to de Villiers, the legend said, 'It was even more special to see you standing out of bounds in the last two overs. (In the last over) Hoff's (Hazlewood) second ball was not a six, they needed five sixes. (Pointing at de Villiers) I don't know how I managed to hold back the tears in the last three balls of the innings. But you know how it feels. He (pointing at Chris Gayle) knows how it feels.'

Chris Gayle hugged Virat Kohli at that moment. Then, with a smile on his face, he said, '18 years! What a lucky number (Kohli's jersey number is also 18)! I feel happy for you. I feel happy for you. I feel happy for the franchise too.’

Virat Kohli then said, ‘The reason this (IPL trophy) is so special for me is that I get to share it with them. Because I have shared my best moments with them and I know how much we have tried to win (the trophy)... We all suffered (not winning the trophy) because we all gave our best moments to this franchise. We wanted to win the title for RCB from the bottom of our hearts. I swear, it (winning the trophy) feels 10 times more special now because they are standing next to me. This title is as much for them as it is for me. I know people are emotional and they have also given their all. So they have an equal share in this.’