Royal Challengers Bangalore Clinch First IPL Title After 17 Years

The Royal Challengers Bangalore have achieved a historic milestone by winning their first IPL title after 17 years. In a thrilling final against Punjab Kings, RCB emerged victorious by just six runs, with Virat Kohli playing a crucial role. This victory marks a significant moment in Kohli's career, as he finally secures the championship trophy after years of near misses. The team's strategic changes and strong performances throughout the season have led to this long-awaited triumph. Discover how RCB turned their fortunes around and the key players who contributed to this landmark victory.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 4, 2025, 07:28 IST

RCB's Historic Victory in IPL 2025

After a long wait of 17 years, the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have finally claimed their first IPL championship. In a nail-biting match held in Ahmedabad, RCB triumphed over Punjab Kings by a mere six runs. This victory marks a significant milestone for the team, with Virat Kohli playing a pivotal role by scoring 43 runs, showcasing his leadership despite having faced defeats in three previous finals.

Both RCB and Punjab Kings underwent substantial changes during the retention and auction phases leading up to the IPL 2025 season. RCB opted to retain only three players: Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and Yash Dayal, focusing on establishing a solid core team. With Dinesh Karthik serving as mentor and batting coach, Andy Flower as head coach, and Mo Bobat as director of cricket, RCB successfully filled critical gaps in their lineup.

Patidar shone in his new captaincy role while Kohli consistently contributed runs. RCB's explosive starts were bolstered by Phil Salt, who joined from KKR, while the bowling attack was spearheaded by Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, with Krunal Pandya making significant contributions.

RCB transformed their away game performance, turning previous defeats into a series of victories. They achieved their first win against CSK in Chennai since 2008 and triumphed at Wankhede for the first time in a decade. RCB won all seven of their league matches on the road and secured another vital win in Qualifier 1 against Punjab Kings at Mullanpur.

Throughout the season, Patidar set a strong pace, with teammates stepping up as well. Romario Shepherd recorded the second-fastest fifty in IPL history, while Jacob Bethell contributed a crucial fifty in Salt's absence. Jitesh Sharma delivered one of the season's standout performances with an 85-run innings, his first IPL half-century, propelling RCB into Qualifier 1, where Suyash Sharma's three wickets dismantled PBKS for just 101 runs.

In the final match, all seven RCB batsmen scored in double digits, helping the team post a total of 190 runs. Krunal Pandya played a key role in halting Punjab's momentum by taking crucial wickets, while Hazlewood, Dayal, Bhuvneshwar, and Romario made significant contributions at critical moments to secure the victory.

For many years, RCB relied heavily on Kohli's performance. Throughout the 2010s, he consistently delivered alongside stars like Gayle and de Villiers, setting records but never clinching the coveted trophy. However, in 2025, after 18 seasons, Kohli finally holds the championship trophy, making the No. 18 jersey even more meaningful.