Royal Challengers Bengaluru Clinch First IPL Title After 18 Years
Historic Victory for RCB at Narendra Modi Stadium
A momentous occasion unfolded at the Narendra Modi Stadium as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) secured their first IPL championship, ending an 18-year wait. They triumphed over Punjab Kings (PBKS) by a narrow margin of 6 runs in the IPL 2025 final.
The atmosphere was charged with emotion, particularly for Virat Kohli, who has dedicated 18 years to RCB. Tears welled in his eyes as the team neared victory. Kohli contributed significantly with 43 runs off 35 balls, including three boundaries. Before this final, he had participated in three IPL finals, accumulating 96 runs at an average of 32 and a strike rate of 128.
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The tears say it all 🥹
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) June 3, 2025
An 1️⃣8️⃣-year wait comes to an end 👏
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After the match, Kohli expressed his joy in lifting the trophy for his wife, Anushka Sharma, who also hails from Bengaluru, making the victory even more special for her. He shared these heartfelt thoughts alongside RCB legends Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers.
Virat Kohli stated:
“There’s a lot that’s been spoken about me already, this win is for Bangalore. This moment is right up there with the best moments in my career.”
RCB Ends Long Wait for IPL Glory
RCB set the tone by batting first, finishing with a score of 190/9 in their 20 overs. Kohli was the top scorer with 43 runs, while Jitesh Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, and Liam Livingstone also made valuable contributions. Arshdeep Singh took three wickets in the final over, and Kyle Jamieson claimed three wickets for 48 runs.
Punjab Kings' captain, Shreyas Iyer, opted to bowl first after winning the toss. However, PBKS fell short in their chase, ending with 184/6. Shashank Singh played a commendable innings, remaining not out at 61 runs from 30 balls, but it wasn't enough to secure victory.
Both teams maintained the same player lineup as in their previous encounter, with RCB missing Tim David due to injury.