KKN Gurugram Desk | After 17 years of waiting, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) finally lifted the Indian Premier League (IPL) trophy for the first time in franchise history. RCB defeated Punjab Kings (PBKS) by 6 runs in a nail-biting final match played on June 3, 2025.

The title win marks a dramatic turnaround for a team often dubbed “underachievers” of the IPL. Led by captain Rajat Patidar, RCB displayed grit, teamwork, and determination to etch their name in IPL history.

Match Summary: RCB vs PBKS, IPL 2025 Final

• RCB: 190/9 in 20 overs

• PBKS: 184/7 in 20 overs

• Result: RCB won by 6 runs

• Venue: [Stadium details not specified]

• Player of the Match: Krunal Pandya

 RCB’s Innings: Kohli Anchors, Patidar Leads, Krunal Supports

Batting first, RCB posted a competitive total of 190 runs. The innings was anchored by Virat Kohli, who played a steady knock of 43 runs off 35 balls. Openers Phil Salt (19) and Mayank Agarwal (24) provided a quick start, but RCB’s innings was frequently disrupted by tight bowling from PBKS.

Captain Rajat Patidar contributed with 26 runs, stabilizing the middle order before being trapped LBW by Kyle Jamieson. Later, cameos from Liam Livingstone (25) and Jitesh Sharma (24) pushed the score close to the 190-mark.

RCB’s lower order struggled, with Romario Shepherd (17) and Krunal Pandya (4) adding minimal runs. Despite losing wickets regularly, RCB’s total was defendable.

Key Bowling for PBKS:

• Kyle Jamieson: 3 wickets

• Arshdeep Singh: 3 wickets

• Yuzvendra Chahal, Umarzai, and Vishak: 1 wicket each

 PBKS’ Chase: Shashank Singh Fights Lone Battle

Chasing 191 for their maiden IPL title, PBKS started on a cautious note. Opener Priyansh Arya scored 24 before falling to Josh Hazlewood. Prabhsimran Singh (26) played a short but useful knock before Krunal Pandya dismissed him.

Skipper Shreyas Iyer, who had been in excellent form throughout the tournament, was dismissed for just 1 run, a crucial blow to Punjab’s hopes. Josh Inglis (39) tried to steady the chase but lacked consistent support from the middle order.

Nehal Wadhera (15) and Marcus Stoinis (6) failed to capitalize. The innings was kept alive solely by Shashank Singh, who scored an unbeaten 61 under pressure but couldn’t finish the job as PBKS fell 6 runs short.

RCB Bowling Highlights:

• Bhuvneshwar Kumar: 2 wickets

• Krunal Pandya: 2 wickets (4 overs, 17 runs)

• Josh Hazlewood & Shepherd: Crucial breakthroughs

Player of the Match: Krunal Pandya

With an economical spell of 4 overs, 2 wickets for just 17 runs, Krunal Pandya was instrumental in choking PBKS’s chase in the middle overs. He dismissed the dangerous Prabhsimran Singh and controlled the run flow.

His all-round performance, along with a key contribution in the field, earned him the Player of the Match award.

 Individual Honours and Season Stats

Orange Cap Winner (Most Runs):

• Sai Sudharsan – 759 runs in 15 matches
  The consistent top-order batter emerged as the most prolific run-scorer of IPL 2025.

Purple Cap Winner (Most Wickets):

• Prasidh Krishna – 25 wickets
  The pace spearhead was the leading wicket-taker and a constant threat in all phases.

 RCB Playing XI (Final Match):

• Phil Salt

• Virat Kohli

• Mayank Agarwal

• Rajat Patidar (C)

• Liam Livingstone

• Jitesh Sharma (WK)

• Romario Shepherd

• Krunal Pandya

• Bhuvneshwar Kumar

• Yash Dayal

• Josh Hazlewood

Impact Players: Rasikh Salam, Manoj Bhandage, Tim Seifert, Swapnil Singh, Suyash Sharma

Punjab Kings Playing XI (Final Match):

• Priyansh Arya

• Josh Inglis (WK)

• Shreyas Iyer (C)

• Nehal Wadhera

• Shashank Singh

• Marcus Stoinis

• Azmatullah Omarzai

• Kyle Jamieson

• Vijaykumar Vishak

• Arshdeep Singh

• Yuzvendra Chahal

Impact Players: Prabhsimran Singh, Praveen Dubey, Suryansh Shedge, Xavier Bartlett, Harpreet Brar

 Key Moments That Defined the Final

1. Krunal Pandya’s Middle-Over Spell: Turned the game by removing key batters and restricting boundaries.

2. Shreyas Iyer’s Early Exit: His dismissal for 1 run deflated PBKS’ chase.

3. Shashank Singh’s Lone Effort: Though valiant, it was insufficient without support.

4. RCB’s Early Momentum: Virat and Patidar’s partnership gave RCB a stable platform.

5. Jamieson and Arshdeep’s Fightback: Despite excellent bowling, PBKS fell just short.

 Strategic Analysis: How RCB Finally Broke the Jinx

RCB’s victory in 2025 is a result of years of rebuilding and smart strategy:

• Leadership Shift: Rajat Patidar’s calm captaincy replaced past high-pressure breakdowns.

• Balanced Squad: Blend of experience (Kohli, Bhuvneshwar) and youth (Livingstone, Dayal).

• All-Round Depth: Krunal’s inclusion gave the team control and flexibility.

• Team Spirit: A unified squad that overcame playoff pressure with maturity.

 Reactions from the Cricket World

• Virat Kohli:

  “We’ve waited a long time. To see this team finally lift the trophy is emotional. Rajat led superbly.”

• Rajat Patidar (Captain):

  “Credit to the entire squad and support staff. We played for each other, and that made the difference.”

• BCCI President (Statement):

  “Congratulations to RCB for their first title. This was one of the closest and most competitive finals in IPL history.”

 Season Review: IPL 2025 in Numbers

• Most Runs: Sai Sudharsan (759)

• Most Wickets: Prasidh Krishna (25)

• Highest Team Total: 239/4 – [Team not mentioned]

• Most Sixes by a Player: [Data not available]

• Best Bowling Figures: [Data not available]

With this long-awaited triumph, RCB has silenced critics and rewritten their narrative in IPL history. Their journey from perennial heartbreak to ultimate glory is a testament to perseverance, team culture, and leadership evolution.

This victory may not just be a turning point in RCB’s history—but in the Indian Premier League itself, as one of its most followed teams finally claims the trophy.

Stay tuned to KKNLive.com for exclusive IPL 2025 post-season reviews, interviews, and expert analysis.