The long, agonising wait finally ended for Royal Challengers Bengaluru as they lifted their first-ever Indian Premier League (IPL) trophy at the Narendra Modi Stadium, defeating Punjab Kings in a thrilling finale. After three failed attempts in previous finals, RCB finally found glory in their fourth, capping off a near-flawless campaign with a six-run win that sealed their status as 2025 champions.
This year, the team from Bengaluru looked transformed, focused, balanced, and determined. A brilliant auction set the tone for the season, allowing RCB to assemble a formidable squad with depth in both batting and bowling departments. From the outset, they played like a team on a mission, bulldozing opponents with clinical precision. The Rajat Patidar-led side won nine of their 14 league matches to finish second in the points table, and carried that momentum into the playoffs.
After a commanding victory over the same Punjab Kings in Qualifier 1, RCB once again held their nerve in the final. Batting first, they posted a competitive total of 190, thanks to contributions from across the order. Virat Kohli top-scored with 43, anchoring the innings and ensuring RCB had enough on the board to challenge the in-form PBKS line-up. The final turned into a tense battle, with Punjab fighting back, but the RCB bowlers, led by their disciplined pacers, kept things tight. Punjab Kings eventually fell short by six runs, and RCB’s players erupted in celebration.
The moment that captured the heart of every cricket fan, however, came when Virat Kohli, eyes welled with tears, stood motionless near the boundary, overwhelmed by emotion. It was the image of the night, and arguably of the season. Kohli, who had poured nearly two decades of effort into the franchise, had finally realized the dream. His 657 runs across 15 matches made him RCB’s top scorer this season, further solidifying his iconic status in the tournament’s history.
Kohli’s tears were a culmination of heartbreaks, close calls, and undying loyalty. A stalwart of the franchise since the inaugural season in 2008, he had come close on multiple occasions, only to fall short each time. But in 2025, the script finally changed.
Alongside Kohli, Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood also had a phenomenal campaign. The fast bowler was instrumental in RCB’s resurgence, finishing with 22 wickets in just 12 matches, consistently providing crucial breakthroughs and applying pressure in crunch moments.
RCB fever hits Mahavir Nagar! Kandivali West erupts in cheers as fans chant Virat Kohli’s name and celebrate the long-awaited IPL victory
Via: @ShirishVaktania #IPL #PunjabKings #RoyalChallengersBengaluru #IPL #IPL2025 #IPL2025Final #sports #cricket pic.twitter.com/9A5zPjUa3T
— Mid Day (@mid_day) June 3, 2025
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