On May 31, 2025, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) won their first Indian Premier League (IPL) title by defeating the Punjab Kings by six runs in a thrilling final at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
The RCB title victory, led by Virat Kohli’s 43 runs and captain Rajat Patidar’s 26 runs, saw RCB post a total of 190/9, while Krunal Pandya’s bowling restricted Punjab to 184/7.
Kohli, the only lifelong player for RCB in his 18-year IPL career, broke down in tears after the final ball, overwhelmed by the historic victory. His wife, Anushka Sharma, looked visibly stunned. Patidar had promised to win for Kohli, and he fulfilled that promise. Kohli’s fist bump with former teammate AB de Villiers, who was cheering from the sidelines, added to the emotional significance of the moment.
𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐁𝐨𝐥𝐝 🏆
Royal Challengers Bengaluru, 𝙀𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙨 📖❤#TATAIPL 2025 has indeed been a year of possibilities ✨#RCBvPBKS | #Final | #TheLastMile | @RCBTweets pic.twitter.com/qvNsWAO2hz
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) June 3, 2025RCB scored 190 runs for 9 wickets, anchored by Kohli and Patidar. In contrast, Shashank Singh from Punjab remained unbeaten with 61 runs, though it was in vain. A key moment occurred when Bhuvneshwar Kumar dismissed Marcus Stoinis, shifting the momentum at 136 runs for 5 wickets.
RCB, who finished second in the group stage, secured their first final berth in nine years by defeating Punjab by eight wickets in Qualifier 1. Punjab bounced back by defeating the Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2, leading to a highly anticipated rematch. Virat Kohli’s performance in the IPL final, along with RCB’s strategic bowling, showcased their dominance in the match.
AAAAARRRRR CEEEEEEE BEEEEEE ❤🏆#TATAIPL | #RCBvPBKS | #Final | #TheLastMile | @RCBTweets pic.twitter.com/lp3AwgCVQl
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) June 3, 2025The RCB IPL 2025 title marks a historic milestone for RCB and Virat Kohli, cementing his legacy as an IPL icon. The thrilling match between Punjab Kings and RCB captivated fans and boosted the IPL’s global appeal. Meanwhile, the era of Captain Rajat Patidar begins with a landmark victory, shaping the narratives of cricket in 2025.
