Bengaluru / Ahmedabad, 03 June 2025: History has finally been made. After 18 years of trials, heartbreaks, and missed opportunities, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have lifted their first-ever IPL trophy, defeating Punjab Kings (PBKS) in a thrilling finale by 6 runs at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.
💥 A Night of Redemption, A Legacy Completed
In what will go down as one of the most emotional nights in IPL history, Virat Kohli, the only player to represent a single franchise since the tournament’s inception, finally stood on the podium of champions. For the fans who waited patiently — and often painfully — this victory wasn’t just a win, it was vindication.
RCB posted a competitive 190/9 after being put into bat by PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer, who won the toss and chose to bowl. Kohli top-scored with a composed 43 off 30 balls, while Arshdeep Singh rattled the middle order with figures of 3/40, including three wickets in a dramatic final over.
🏏 PBKS Falter Despite Strong Start
Punjab Kings’ chase began steadily, with openers Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya guiding the score to 52 at the end of the powerplay. Arya fell to a sensational catch by Phil Salt, while Prabhsimran (26) was later removed by Krunal Pandya. Despite a valiant half-century by Shashank Singh, Punjab collapsed under pressure, losing wickets in clusters.
The final over drama had fans on edge — 22 runs came off the last 4 balls — but it was too late. RCB held their nerve, clinching the match by 6 runs. The defining moment came when Shashank Singh carved a full ball over cover for six, but the damage had already been done with two dots at the start of the over.
🥹 Virat Kohli: The Heart of RCB
Tears streamed down Kohli’s face as the final wicket fell. After years of “so close, yet so far,” the cricketing icon — fresh off a T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy win — added the elusive IPL trophy to his decorated cabinet. The emotion was palpable. This wasn’t just a personal milestone; it was the end of a generational drought.
🔥 Match Summary:
- RCB: 190/9 (20 overs)
Top scorer: Virat Kohli – 43 (30)
Arshdeep Singh – 3/40 - PBKS: 184/8 (20 overs)
Top scorer: Shashank Singh – 54*
Romario Shepherd – 2/28
📋 Final XIs:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru:
Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Mayank Agarwal, Rajat Patidar (c), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood
Punjab Kings:
Priyansh Arya, Josh Inglis (wk), Shreyas Iyer (c), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Azmatullah Omarzai, Kyle Jamieson, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal
📢 “Ee Sala Cup Namde” – No Longer a Dream
From memes to mantras, the phrase “Ee Sala Cup Namde” is no longer a hopeful chant — it’s history. It’s celebration. It’s real. The city of Bengaluru erupts, and cricket lovers across India join in one of the sport’s most iconic turnarounds.
This IPL final wasn’t just a match. It was a story 18 years in the making — of faith, of fire, and of finally finishing the job.
