The atmosphere was electric at the Narendra Modi Stadium during the IPL 2025 Final between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Punjab Kings (PBKS), but it turned sombre for RCB fans when star batter Virat Kohli was dismissed after a promising knock of 43 runs off 35 balls.
The moment of heartbreak came in the 15th over of the innings, when Afghan all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai, bowling his second spell, removed Kohli in a dramatic fashion. Kohli, looking to accelerate, attempted to pull a slightly short delivery. However, he mistimed it completely, sending the ball looping high into the Ahmedabad sky.
Omarzai didn’t just deliver the ball, he completed the job himself. Sprinting toward mid-wicket, he kept his eyes on the swirling ball and took a superb running catch under pressure, igniting wild celebrations in the PBKS camp.
In the stands, Bollywood star and Kohli's wife, Anushka Sharma, was visibly distraught. Cameras caught her covering her face in disappointment as she processed the crucial wicket. Her reaction quickly went viral on social media, reflecting the mood of millions of RCB fans whose hopes were pinned on Kohli anchoring the innings deep into the final.
Kohli’s dismissal was a major setback for RCB, who had started their innings with solid intent but found themselves on the back foot following the timely strike by Omarzai.
IPL 2025: Royal Challengers Bengaluru are taking on Punjab Kings in the finals at Narendra Modi Stadium
The stage is set for a historic showdown as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) clash in the IPL 2025 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on June 3 at 7:30 PM IST. Both teams are vying for their maiden IPL title, adding an extra layer of anticipation to this high-stakes encounter.
Under the leadership of Rajat Patidar, RCB finished second in the league stage with 9 wins, 4 losses, and one no-result, amassing 19 points. They secured their spot in the final by defeating PBKS in Qualifier 1, marking their first final appearance since 2016.
PBKS topped the league stage with an identical record to RCB but had a superior net run rate. After a setback against RCB in Qualifier 1, they bounced back by overcoming Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2, thanks to a stellar unbeaten 87 by captain Shreyas Iyer.
