RCB Clinches Maiden IPL Title After 18 Years in a Thrilling Final
RCB vs PBKS IPL 2025 Final : Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) finally ended their 18-year-long wait and lifted their first-ever Indian Premier League (IPL) trophy by defeating Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the final of IPL 2025. Under the captaincy of Rajat Patidar, RCB emerged victorious by 6 runs in a nail-biting match held on Tuesday. This emotional moment saw veteran star Virat Kohli shedding tears of joy, having been a part of the franchise since its inception in 2008.
RCB Sets a Competitive Target
After being put to bat first, RCB posted a total of 190 runs for 9 wickets in their 20 overs. Virat Kohli led the charge with a composed knock of 43 runs off 35 balls, including three boundaries. Despite losing opener Phil Salt early (16 off 9 balls), Kohli built crucial partnerships — 38 runs with Mayank Agarwal (24 off 18 balls), and 40 runs with captain Rajat Patidar (26 off 16 balls). Later, Liam Livingstone (25 off 15 balls) and Jitesh Sharma (24 off 10 balls) provided quick runs in the middle order. In the final over, Arshdeep Singh’s brilliant spell restricted RCB from breaching the 200-run mark by taking three wickets — Romario Shepherd (17), Krunal Pandya (4), and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1). Arshdeep and Kyle Jamieson picked up three wickets each for Punjab.
Punjab’s Brave Chase Falls Short
Chasing a target of 191, PBKS started well with an opening stand of 43 runs between Priyansh Arya (24) and Prabhsimran Singh (26). However, their momentum was disrupted by the regular fall of wickets. Captain Shreyas Iyer managed just one run, and middle-order batters Azmatullah Umarzai (1), Marcus Stoinis (6), and Nehal Wadhera (15) failed to capitalize. Josh Inglis added some hope with a 39-run innings off 23 balls, but lacked support from the other end. It was Shashank Singh who kept Punjab alive with a blazing unbeaten 61 off 30 balls, smashing 3 fours and 6 sixes. Needing 30 runs in the final over, Punjab fell short despite scoring 22 runs, ending at 184 for 7.
Bowling Heroes and Emotional Triumph
RCB’s bowlers held their nerve under pressure. Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, and Romario Shepherd claimed one wicket each, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Krunal Pandya contributed with two wickets apiece. The victory not only brought joy to millions of RCB fans but also fulfilled Virat Kohli’s long-cherished dream of lifting the IPL trophy. His emotional reaction summed up the significance of the moment for the team and its loyal supporters.