After years of heartbreak and relentless pursuit, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) finally claimed their maiden IPL title with a thrilling 6-run victory over Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the grand finale of IPL 2025. The match, held at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, saw RCB emerge victorious in front of a packed house, putting an emphatic end to a 18-year title drought.
RCB posted a total of 190/9 in 20 overs after being put into bat. The innings was anchored by star batter Virat Kohli, who scored a composed 43 off 35 balls, including 3 boundaries. Skipper Rajat Patidar added a quickfire 26 off 16 balls, striking 1 four and 2 sixes to give RCB crucial momentum during the middle overs. For Punjab Kings, Arshdeep Singh stood out with the ball, finishing with impressive figures of 3/40 in 4 overs, picking up key wickets and keeping RCB in check during the death overs.
Chasing 191 for victory, PBKS found themselves under pressure early and never truly recovered. Josh Inglis led the fightback with a blistering 39 off 23 balls (1 four, 4 sixes), while Shashank Singh chipped in with a valiant 61 off 30 balls, smashing 3 boundaries and 6 sixes. However, the disciplined RCB bowling attack held firm.
All-rounder Krunal Pandya was the standout performer with the ball for RCB, delivering a match-winning spell of 2/17 in his 4 overs, applying the brakes precisely when needed. RCB’s fielding and tight bowling in the death overs ensured that Punjab Kings were restricted to 184/7 in their 20 overs, falling short by 6 runs.
