After 18 nail-biting seasons, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) finally clinched their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title on June 3, 2025, with a thrilling six-run victory over Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The match was a pulsating contest, showcasing some spectacular batting, clever bowling, and intense pressure moments that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the very last ball.
Chasing a target of 190, Punjab Kings fought valiantly but were ultimately restricted to 184 for 7 in their 20 overs. The RCB bowlers, led by the incisive Krunal Pandya, who took 2 wickets for 17 runs, executed their plans with precision, especially in the death overs. Krunal's spell was a standout in the final, earning him strong consideration for the Player of the Match award.
Earlier, RCB posted a competitive 190 for 9, thanks largely to an assured innings from their talisman Virat Kohli, who scored 43 runs off 35 balls. Kohli’s knock, while not his most explosive, was vital in setting a challenging total on a pitch described as a "belter" by former Australian captain Michael Clarke. The surface, a mix of red and black soil with a thin grass layer, offered good carry and bounce, testing both batters and bowlers throughout the match.
The innings saw early breakthroughs for PBKS as Kyle Jamieson and Arshdeep Singh shared six wickets between them, with Jamieson finishing with 3 for 48 and Arshdeep with 3 for 40. The Punjab Kings bowlers effectively targeted RCB's key players, dismissing promising batters like Rajat Patidar (26 off 16) and Liam Livingstone (25 off 15), both bowled by Jamieson. Despite these setbacks, RCB's middle and lower order, including Jitesh Sharma’s quickfire 24 off 10 balls and Romario Shepherd’s 17 off 9, ensured the team reached a formidable total.
Punjab Kings’ chase began positively with openers Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh putting together a solid foundation. Prabhsimran scored 26 off 22 balls before falling to Krunal Pandya’s clever slower ball, while Arya contributed 24 runs. Josh Inglis was the mainstay in the middle order, scoring 39 off 23, notably accumulating 33 runs from just 10 balls through his powerful pull shots.
However, the innings was punctuated by crucial wickets at key moments. Skipper Shreyas Iyer, who had won the toss and elected to bowl first, was dismissed cheaply for just 1 run, caught behind off Romario Shepherd. This dismissal echoed a similar fate Iyer suffered in the 2023 World Cup semi-final, adding a layer of drama to his campaign. The lower order struggled to keep up with the required run rate, with Nehal Wadhera (15 off 18) and Marcus Stoinis (6 off 2) falling to Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who took 2 wickets for 38 runs.
Despite a valiant unbeaten 61 off 30 balls from Shashank Singh, who blasted multiple sixes including an electrifying sequence off Hazlewood in the final overs, Punjab Kings fell agonizingly short. Their hopes of a last-over miracle were dashed as Hazlewood held his nerve, conceding just a few runs in the final over to seal the match for RCB.
The victory was particularly special for Virat Kohli, who ended his 18-year wait to lift the IPL trophy. Wearing his iconic No. 18 jersey in the 18th edition of the IPL, the symbolism was not lost on fans and players alike. Kohli was visibly emotional, breaking down in tears as he was surrounded by teammates, including legends like AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle, who were present to witness the historic moment. Speaking to the media post-match, Kohli said, "I held back the tears for the last three balls but after that I was done. It is done. It is done." He credited the bowlers for the team’s success, stating, "If you ask me this tournament has been won by the bowlers. We can back so many times. The whole team played their part throughout the tournament. It could not have been more perfect."
This final was a landmark event, as it was the first time since 2016 that two teams who had never won the IPL title before met in the championship match. RCB had previously reached the final four times but had fallen short each time, while PBKS were appearing in their second final, having lost to Kolkata Knight Riders in 2014. The match not only broke RCB's long-standing title drought but also underscored the growing competitiveness and unpredictability of the IPL.
Both teams fielded unchanged line-ups from their previous matches, with RCB missing their usual finisher Tim David due to a hamstring injury. The match also featured some intriguing individual battles: Shreyas Iyer’s attempt to become the first player to lead three different franchises to IPL finals, and Kohli’s quest to finally claim the trophy after nearly two decades with the same franchise.
The atmosphere inside the Narendra Modi Stadium was electric from the start, with a capacity crowd witnessing a high-quality contest. The pitch offered a good balance for both batters and bowlers, with plenty of bounce and carry, making shot selection and bowling discipline crucial. Both teams demonstrated tactical acumen, with captains Rajat Patidar for RCB and Shreyas Iyer for PBKS making strategic decisions that shaped the flow of the game.
RCB’s innings started strongly with Phil Salt, who flew in on the morning of the final after attending the birth of his child, hitting a six and a four in the first over before being dismissed by Jamieson. Mayank Agarwal and Rajat Patidar provided steady support before Jamieson’s legcutter claimed Patidar’s wicket. Kohli anchored the innings, while Jitesh Sharma’s late cameo helped push the total close to 190.
Punjab Kings’ chase was marked by resilience and flashes of brilliance, particularly from Shashank Singh and Inglis. Yet the pressure of the chase and the disciplined RCB bowling attack kept them just out of reach. The final over, bowled by Hazlewood, was a tense affair, with Punjab needing 29 runs but managing only a handful, sealing RCB’s historic triumph.
In the end, the IPL 2025 final was a fitting climax to a season filled with drama, skill, and passion. Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s breakthrough victory and Kohli’s crowning achievement will be remembered as one of the great moments in IPL history, while Punjab Kings can take pride in their valiant effort and promise for future campaigns.
