IPL 2025 Final: RCB Clinch Maiden Title With 6-Run Win Over PBKS In Ahmedabad; Krunal Pandya Steals The Show

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June 3, Ahmedabad - After 17 long years of heartbreak and near-misses, Royal Challengers Bengaluru finally ended their title drought by clinching the IPL 2025 title, defeating Punjab Kings by 6 runs in a pulsating final at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Tuesday (June 3).

Backed by a sea of red and gold in the crowd, RCB held their nerve in the grand finale to seal a dramatic victory as PBKS fell short in a stiff chase of 191. Krunal Pandya - the RCB all-rounder - bagged the player of the match for his stellar bowling effort.

Salt, Jitesh, and Kohli Lead with the Bat in a Roller-Coaster Innings

Opting to bat first after being put in by PBKS, RCB got off to a cracking start, thanks to Phil Salt, who smacked 13 runs off Arshdeep Singh's first over, setting an aggressive tone. However, the momentum took a sharp hit when Kyle Jamieson struck in the very next over, dismissing Salt for 16 off 9, courtesy of a well-judged catch by Shreyas Iyer.

Mayank Agarwal injected urgency with a brisk 24 off 18, but his attempt to slog-sweep Yuzvendra Chahal ended in the hands of Arshdeep at deep backward square. RCB were 61/2 in 7 overs, with Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar looking to steady the innings. Kohli, uncharacteristically cautious, had just one boundary in his first 9 overs and reached 43 off 35 before falling to Azmatullah Omarzai, who took a spectacular caught-and-bowled to break RCB hearts.

Patidar (26 off 16) too fell earlier to Jamieson, leaving RCB at a tricky 97/3 at the end of 11 overs. With pressure mounting, Jitesh Sharma turned the tide spectacularly. After slamming Arshdeep for back-to-back boundaries, he tore into Jamieson in the 17th over with three colossal sixes, lifting the crowd into a frenzy.

23 runs came off that over, pushing RCB past 160. However, Livingstone (25 off 15) fell LBW off the final ball of the over, and Jitesh (24 off 10) was bowled by Vyshak Vijaykumar in the 18th, halting the late surge.

Despite a late six from Romario Shepherd (17 off 8), Arshdeep Singh redeemed himself by taking three wickets in the final over - Shepherd, Krunal Pandya (4 off 5), and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1) - finishing with figures of 3/40. RCB ended with 190/9, a competitive but not commanding total on a good batting pitch.

PBKS Start Strong, But RCB's Nerves and Salt's Brilliance Seal It

Punjab Kings' openers Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya began confidently, collecting 23 off the first two overs. Arya, in particular, was impressive, striking four boundaries in his 24-run knock. However, just as the powerplay seemed in their control, Josh Hazlewood struck the first blow - Arya mistimed a flick-pull and was caught at the boundary by Phil Salt, whose boundary awareness and juggling act was nothing short of genius.

With the crowd back on its feet and chanting "RCB...RCB!", Hazlewood's wicket shifted the mood. He delivered again soon after, removing the dangerous Shreyas Iyer for a sedate 17 off 20, as RCB began to apply the squeeze.

Prabhsimran Singh kept Punjab in the hunt with a gutsy 39-ball 45, but wickets at regular intervals - including that of Liam Livingstone (13 off 9, run out) and Sam Curran (8 off 10) - meant the chase never truly settled. Hazlewood (2/26) was once again RCB's bowling spearhead, getting crucial breakthroughs at just the right moments.

Nail-Biting Finish and Redemption for RCB

Despite needing 35 off the final three overs, PBKS stayed alive with some late boundaries from Rishi Dhawan and Omarzai, but Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Shepherd bowled their hearts out at the death. With 15 needed off the final over, PBKS needed a miracle. Shepherd held his nerve and bowled a brilliant 20th, giving away just 8 runs and sealing RCB's first-ever IPL championship.

The Wait Ends: RCB Are Champions at Last

As the final run failed to come, the Narendra Modi Stadium erupted in a deafening roar. Players dropped to their knees, Salt hugged Kohli, Andy Flower jumped in celebration, and for once, the phrase "Ee Sala Cup Namde" was not just a dream - it was history and the RCB fans started chanting "Ee Sala Cup Namdu". After 17 years of waiting, three final losses, and countless heartbreaks had all led to this moment.

Reflecting on the emotions and the journey Kohli said, "This win is as much for the fans as it is for the team. It's been 18 long years. I've given this time my youth, my prime. I gave it everything I had. I never thought this day would come. Was overcome with emotion as soon as the last ball was bowled."

RCB's IPL 2025 win will go down as one of the most emotionally fulfilling triumphs in tournament history. Not just for the team, but for their ever-passionate fanbase that painted Ahmedabad red.

IPL 2025 Final Score Summary

Royal Challengers Bengaluru - 190/9 in 20 overs. Virat Kohli 43 (35), Jitesh Sharma 24 (10), Phil Salt 16 (9). Jamieson 3/39, Arshdeep 3/40, Chahal 1/27.

Punjab Kings - 184/7 in 20 overs - Prabhsimran 45 (39), Arya 24 (19), Iyer 17 (20). Hazlewood 2/26, Shepherd 1/31, Bhuvneshwar 1/28.

Result: RCB won by 6 runs