Royal Challengers Bengaluru Clinch IPL 2025 Title in Thrilling Finale
RCB Triumphs Over Punjab Kings in IPL 2025 Final
Royal Challengers Bengaluru emerged victorious, defeating Punjab Kings by a narrow margin of 6 runs in the IPL 2025 final held in Ahmedabad. Despite a valiant effort from Shashank Singh towards the end, RCB secured the win.
RCB set a challenging target of 190 runs, scoring 190/9 in their allotted 20 overs. Virat Kohli was the standout performer, scoring 43 runs off 35 balls before being dismissed by a spectacular caught and bowled by Omarzai. Phil Salt provided a brisk start but was dismissed for 16 by Jamieson. Mayank Agarwal contributed a promising 24 runs before falling to a misjudged sweep off Chahal. Rajat Patidar (26) and Livingstone (25) maintained the momentum but were both trapped LBW by Jamieson, who ended with impressive figures of 3/48.
Jitesh Sharma's explosive innings of 24 runs off just 10 balls helped RCB accelerate towards the end, but Arshdeep Singh's exceptional bowling in the death overs proved crucial. He took three wickets, dismissing Shepherd (LBW), Krunal (caught at long-on), and Bhuvneshwar (caught in the deep), finishing with figures of 3/40. Despite a late collapse, RCB managed to post a competitive total, leaving Punjab Kings needing 191 runs to claim their first title.
Punjab Kings Fall Short in Nail-Biting Finish
Punjab Kings came agonizingly close to victory, finishing their innings at 184/7, just 6 runs shy of RCB's total. Priyansh Arya (24 off 19) and Prabhsimran Singh (26 off 22) provided a solid start, but Krunal Pandya's double strike, which removed both Prabhsimran and the dangerous Josh Inglis (39 off 23), put Punjab on the back foot.
Captain Shreyas Iyer's early dismissal added to the pressure, while Nehal Wadhera's slow 15 off 18 balls further compounded their struggles. Bhuvneshwar Kumar made significant contributions by taking two wickets, dismissing Wadhera and Stoinis (6 off 2), while Yash Dayal accounted for Omarzai. At 145/7 in the 18th over, Punjab's chances seemed bleak.
However, Shashank Singh's remarkable innings of 61 not out off just 30 balls, featuring 3 fours and 6 sixes, nearly turned the tide. Despite needing 13 runs off the final over, Jamieson and Shashank couldn't find the boundaries against Hazlewood, leading to RCB's triumph. RCB celebrated their IPL victory, while Shashank's impressive performance stood out despite the loss.