When Was the Last Time IPL Saw a New Champion? RCB vs PBKS Sets Up Historic 2025 Final

Add as a preferred source on Google

RCB vs PBKS: The wait for a new IPL champion could finally end on June 3, 2025, as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) take on Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Neither team has ever won the title in the tournament's 17-year history, making this one of the most anticipated finals in recent memory.

The last time the IPL welcomed a new name to its champions' list was in 2022, when Gujarat Titans made a dream debut season. Led by Hardik Pandya, GT clinched the title by defeating Rajasthan Royals in the final. That victory added Gujarat to the elite club of IPL winners and broke a string of titles dominated by Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings.

Since then, however, the championship has been shared by former winners. Chennai Super Kings claimed their fifth title in 2023, while Kolkata Knight Riders lifted their third trophy in 2024. The upcoming 2025 final now offers a rare opportunity to break the cycle and witness fresh glory.

Both RCB and PBKS have been part of the league since its inception in 2008, and both have faced heartbreaks at various stages over the years. RCB will be playing in their fourth IPL final, having previously lost in 2009, 2011, and 2016. PBKS, on the other hand, are making only their second appearance in a final, with their only other outing coming in 2014, where they fell short against KKR.

The stakes couldn't be higher - not just for the players and fans, but for the league's history itself. No matter the outcome, the IPL will crown a new champion for the first time in three years.

As two of the league's most passionate and long-suffering franchises gear up for the ultimate battle, June 3 promises to be a landmark day - rain permitting - in IPL history.