Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have finally done it! After 17 years of heartbreak, near-misses, and relentless pursuit, RCB lifted their maiden IPL title with a nerve-wracking six-run victory over Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the IPL 2025 final. It was a night of emotion, redemption, and cricketing brilliance at its peak as Rajat Patidar’s side held their nerve to seal the historic triumph.
🎯 Where Was the Game Won?
In a match that swung like a pendulum, the defining moments came in the middle overs, both with the bat and the ball. RCB edged ahead in this critical phase, scoring 77/3 to PBKS’s 67/3, and that 10-run advantage proved decisive in the end.
🏏 RCB’s Innings: 190/9 (20 Overs)
🔥 PowerPlay (0–6 Overs): A Scratchy Start
RCB began cautiously. Phil Salt showed early aggression but fell attempting a big shot, caught near the boundary by a sharp Shreyas Iyer. Mayank Agarwal, promoted to No. 3, struggled initially but found a few streaky boundaries. Virat Kohli, unusually, faced only 10 balls during the PowerPlay, which ended at 55/1.
PBKS bowlers, especially Kyle Jamieson and Arshdeep Singh, exploited the slight movement in the pitch well, winning the early exchanges.
🧠 Middle Overs (7–15 Overs): Controlled Acceleration
RCB lacked fluency in the middle overs. Yuzvendra Chahal and Omarzai applied pressure, dismissing Mayank, Kohli, and Patidar in quick succession. Rajat Patidar was dismissed by a cleverly disguised full ball from Jamieson after four slower deliveries.
Liam Livingstone and Kohli tried to steady the innings but failed to build any strong momentum. Omarzai’s short-ball tactic paid off as Kohli mistimed one and was caught.
The pressure told, but RCB recovered just in time post-timeout with Jitesh Sharma and Romario Shepherd providing late fireworks.
💥 Death Overs (16–20 Overs): Lower-Order Rescue
RCB’s last five overs yielded 58/5, led by an attacking cameo from Jitesh Sharma, who smashed Jamieson for multiple sixes. Romario Shepherd too played a critical hand, but Arshdeep Singh’s brilliant final over (1 W 1 W 1 W) restricted RCB to 190/9 — a fighting total in a pressure final.
🛡️ PBKS Innings: 184/7 (20 Overs)
🔒 PowerPlay (0–6 Overs): Tight Lines from RCB Pacers
PBKS began with intent but were pegged back by RCB’s pace trio — Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Dayal. Prabhsimran Singh survived a few close calls but couldn’t capitalize. The big moment came when Phil Salt pulled off a spectacular catch at the boundary to dismiss in-form Priyansh Arya, who had raced to 24 off just 13 balls.
PBKS ended the PowerPlay at 52/1, just a tick behind RCB.
🎯 Middle Overs (7–15 Overs): Krunal Pandya’s Masterclass
The final’s turning point came in the middle overs, courtesy Krunal Pandya’s championship-winning spell.
Bowling four overs straight, Krunal finished with 2/17, picking up Prabhsimran Singh and the dangerous Josh Inglis, both of whom looked threatening.
Romario Shepherd chipped in with the wicket of Shreyas Iyer, while Suyash Sharma choked the middle order with tight spin. At this point, PBKS had slipped to 119/4 in 15 overs — now needing 72 off 30 balls.
🧨 Death Overs (16–20 Overs): A Late Charge Falls Short
PBKS refused to give in. Shashank Singh played one of the finest knocks in a final, smashing 61 off 29 balls*, including four sixes in the final over. He was supported briefly by Nehal Wadhera and Stoinis, but the loss of wickets at crucial stages dented PBKS’s momentum.
Bhuvneshwar delivered a brilliant 17th over, taking two wickets, while Dayal and Hazlewood held their nerves in the final overs.
PBKS needed 29 off the final over, and though Shashank gave them hope with 6, 4, 6, 6, Hazlewood bowled two dots to start the over — a buffer that proved enough.
🧠 Key Stats and Highlights
| Parameter | RCB | PBKS |
|---|---|---|
| Middle overs score | 77/3 | 67/3 |
| Total fours/sixes | 11/10 | 9/13 |
| Best spell | Krunal Pandya (2/17) | Arshdeep Singh (3/40) |
| Turning Point | Salt’s boundary catch of Arya | Krunal’s double blow |
🗣️ What They Said:
Krunal Pandya (Player of the Match):
“I just focused on the basics. Holding the line and changing pace worked. Glad to contribute when it mattered most.”
Phil Salt:
“That catch meant a lot. I didn’t even sleep properly last night after flying in. This title is special.”
Rajat Patidar (Captain):
“This group has been fighting hard all season. To lead RCB to its first title feels surreal.”
Virat Kohli (Senior Player):
“I never thought this day would come. 18 years of dreams, and finally, we did it. This one’s for Bangalore.”
👑 RCB’s Title Win: What It Means
- Ends 17 seasons of waiting
- Rewrites their legacy from perennial underachievers to champions
- Emotional closure for Virat Kohli, who stayed loyal since 2008
- Redemption for RCB fans after numerous heartbreaks
📋 Match Summary:
🏏 RCB: 190/9 (20 Overs)
Kohli 43, Patidar 26 | Arshdeep 3-40
🆚
PBKS: 184/7 (20 Overs)
Shashank 61, Inglis 39 | Krunal 2-17*
✅ Result: RCB won by 6 runs
💬 Final Thoughts
The IPL 2025 final was a classic, filled with drama, talent, and emotion. It gave us:
- A champion that refused to be denied
- A vintage performance from Krunal Pandya
- A defining catch by Phil Salt
- And a legendary player — Virat Kohli — finally getting his moment of glory
This wasn’t just a cricket match. It was a story of persistence, heartbreak, loyalty, and redemption — the very soul of sport.
