Royal Challengers Bengaluru Crowned IPL Champions For The First Time After 18-Year Pursuit
Ahmedabad: History was scripted tonight at the Narendra Modi Stadium. After 18 long years of heartbreak, near-misses, and relentless hope, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) finally lifted their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) trophy, defeating Punjab Kings (PBKS) in a gripping final ( 184/7) that brought an emotional end to one of the most anticipated IPL title droughts in cricketing history.
In front of a packed crowd in Ahmedabad, echoing with chants of “Ee Sala Cup Namde,” RCB held their nerve and emerged victorious by 6 runs, defending a challenging total of 190/9 with a spirited bowling performance that throttled Punjab Kings’ chase and closed out the game in style.
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Opting to bat first after winning the toss, RCB got off to a lively start courtesy of Phil Salt, who smashed a quickfire 16 off 9 balls before falling to Kyle Jamieson. But the real foundation came from Virat Kohli, the heartbeat of RCB, who once again stood tall in a high-stakes match with a solid 43 off 35 balls.
Mayank Agarwal chipped in with 24 off 18, and later in the innings, RCB were pushed towards a competitive total through impactful cameos from: Liam Livingstone – 25 (15)
Jitesh Sharma – 24 (10)
Romario Shepherd – 17 (9)
Despite some mid-innings slowdowns, the finish was explosive. Shepherd and Jitesh ensured RCB crossed the 180-mark, even as Arshdeep Singh bowled a fantastic final over, picking up three wickets and finishing with 4-0-27-3.
After the match, Virat Kohli broke down in tears and in a heartfelt post-match interview with Matthew Hayden, Virat Kohli expressed his overwhelming joy and disbelief, admitting he once doubted whether this day would ever arrive.
EMOTIONAL VIRAT KOHLI 🥹
Congratulations RCB – Ee sala cup namde ♥️#RCBvsPBKS | #IPLFinals | #ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/7eHnt9gEBc
— Indian Cricket Team (@incricketteam) June 3, 2025
He dedicated the victory to the fans and his teammates, emphasising his commitment to the franchise. Kohli reflected on his journey with RCB, highlighting his dedication and the team’s support over the years. The victory was particularly significant for Kohli, as it marked the culmination of nearly two decades of dedication to RCB.
Virat Kohli’s heartfelt words following Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title were filled with emotion and gratitude.
Reflecting on the team’s 18-year journey, he expressed, “This win is as much for the fans as it is for the team. I’ve given this team my youth and my prime. Tried to win it every season, gave it everything. Never thought this day would come, was overcome with emotion after we won.”
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Kohli also acknowledged the significant contributions of former teammate AB de Villiers, stating, “What ABD has done for the franchise is tremendous, told him ‘this is as much yours as it is ours’. He deserves to be on the podium, lifting the cup.”
He further emphasised his deep connection to RCB, saying, “My heart is with Bangalore, my soul is with Bangalore.”
Dinesh Karthik, reflecting on the team’s journey, remarked, “Massive. It’s a team that’s waited 18 years, had to wait a long time. ABD, Kohli, all tried their hearts out. We believed from the start we were good. We scored above par tonight, batters felt it wasn’t easy. But final wasn’t about the pitch, we needed fire in the belly and had it.”
