Night of red and roar: Mangaluru erupts as RCB lifts IPL trophy

Mangaluru: Chants of “RCB, RCB...” echoed across the Tata IPL Fan Park at Karavali Grounds Sunday night as thousands of fans watched Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) script history by lifting the Tata IPL 2026 trophy for the second consecutive year. The roar peaked when Virat Kohli struck the winning runs.

The fan park was packed to capacity, with spectators cheering every moment of the high-stakes final. The crowd erupted for every boundary and six by RCB batters and applauded the spells of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood, the wickets taken by Rasikh Dar Salam, and Krunal Pandya’s sharp work behind the stumps to dismiss Jos Buttler.

Tension briefly gripped the venue when captain Rajat Patidar and Krunal Pandya fell in the same over to Rashid Khan. Anxiety deepened when Virat Kohli was adjudged out, but the decision review system (DRS) overturned the call, prompting the loudest cheer of the night.

Celebrations spilt onto the streets as soon as RCB sealed victory. Firecrackers lit up the sky, with sounds reverberating across Lalbagh, Ballalbagh and MG Road. In a rare sight for Mangaluru, traffic congestion stretched into the night, with fans waving flags and celebrating on the roads.

Mangaluru City police deployed personnel to manage traffic and crowd movement. While the simultaneous exit of thousands from the fan park posed a challenge, celebrations remained largely peaceful. Police stopped a few two-wheeler riders without helmets and let them off with warnings.

The final fever extended beyond the fan park. Several hotels installed giant screens, while at Mangaluru International Airport, visitors gathered on the lower-ground-floor arrival forecourt to watch the match, turning the space into an unlikely viewing venue.