Why sport makes us cry: Virat Kohli sheds tears of joy in RCB’s Indian Premier League win

 Virat Kohli has finally done it. After an 18-year journey filled with heartbreak, near misses, and relentless determination, he has lifted his first IPL trophy with Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Former teammates AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle, both retired, were there to witness the historic moment. For years, they battled together but could never cross that final hurdle.

Under Rajat Patidar's leadership, RCB won the cup they wanted the most, beating Punjab Kings in the final in Ahmedabad. The emotional scenes continued as Kohli rushed to embrace his wife Anushka after the game, which was beautiful to watch.

The man has been wearing number 18 for so long, how poetic is it that he won it in the 18th season? He was in tears even before the final ball was bowled, down on his knees holding his head as the reality sank in.

Was he the only one in tears? Absolutely not! Fans across the world were crying with him — tears of pure joy after years of heartbreak.

Yes, men cry. And it's time we stopped pretending otherwise. Some men still think crying shows weakness, they're wrong. It's time we normalise showing emotions, regardless of gender. It's perfectly normal.

Sport makes us emotional. When those moments arrive, tears come inadvertently. These aren't tears of weakness. They show we're all human after all.

Some people might ask, "What do you get from watching a cricket match or a football match?" It's inexplicable, to be honest. You eat to satisfy your hunger. This is to satisfy your soul. It's about the rollercoaster of emotions you go through when you watch a match. It's about experiencing that journey.

It can give you ecstasy, agony, or even numbness, but it's a beautiful thing when you invest so much emotionally. When your favourite athlete or team wins something, you feel like you have won something in your life. That's the power of sport. It's personal.

Imagine waiting so long for your dream to come true — and then, when it finally arrives, you feel something magical. I felt it when Lionel Messi finally lifted the FIFA World Cup in 2022. Every Argentine and Messi fan held their breath when Kolo Muani unleashed that shot in the dying moments, with the score tied at 3-3. Emi Martinez's incredible save in that moment was pure magic.

For RCB fans, this is their World Cup moment. They've waited through years of heartbreak, endured endless trolling, and faced persistent banter from rival supporters. But finallly, they have their moment to cherish forever.

What a year it has been for sports! So many beautiful stories have been written in football as well. In England, Newcastle's long trophy drought ended this season, Crystal Palace won their first major trophy after 119 years, Spurs' 17-year wait ended, Harry Kane finally won a trophy in his career, and Son won a trophy while staying with Spurs.

In Italy, Bologna won a trophy after 51 years. In the Netherlands, Go Ahead Eagles won a major trophy after 92 years. PSG finally won the Champions League. Aberdeen won the Scottish cup after many decades. Now RCB's trophy drought is also over.

Crystal Palace was founded in 1905 — imagine how many generations craved to see their club win a trophy. How many of them died without fulfilling that wish? During their FA Cup victory celebration, I heard one 70-year-old Palace fan say he never thought he would witness the season his lifetime.

Sport is an emotional entity, and we all love it for the essence it brings to our lives. When dreams finally come true, they remind us that the longest waits often lead to the most satisfying victories. It's not just about tasting the glory itself, experiencing the whole journey is worth it.

Yes, sport has become big business, and that's driven some people away. But remember, fans are pivotal to any sport. Without them cheering, crying, and believing, it's just meaningless. Sport belongs to the supporters. That's why we invest our precious time in it.