Royal Challengers Bengaluru Secure Maiden IPL Title in Thrilling Final Against Punjab Kings
An eighteen-year quest culminated in triumph on Tuesday night, June 3rd, as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) were crowned champions of the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the first time, defeating Punjab Kings (PBKS) by a narrow six-run margin in a dramatic final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The victory, achieved in their fourth final appearance, was built on a collective team effort, with key contributions from their experienced campaigners, particularly with the ball on an uncharacteristic Ahmedabad pitch.
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RCB Post Competitive Total amidst Challenges
After being put into bat, Royal Challengers Bengaluru compiled a total of 190 for 9. Virat Kohli provided a crucial innings of 43, navigating a surface where Punjab's seamers found tennis-ball bounce when hitting the pitch hard. While RCB's top order, including Phil Salt, Rajat Patidar, and Liam Livingstone, made starts, they were unable to convert them into larger scores, largely due to effective bowling from PBKS, particularly Kyle Jamieson who utilized slower leg-cutters to claim three wickets. A vital late cameo from Jitesh Sharma (24 off 10 balls) provided some impetus, but an excellent final over from Arshdeep Singh, who found reverse swing and took three wickets, restricted RCB to a score that felt competitive yet achievable.
Punjab's Chase Falters against Disciplined RCB Bowling
Chasing 191, Punjab Kings faced a challenging task on a pitch that offered assistance to bowlers who varied their pace and length. Despite losing early wickets, including the dangerous Josh Inglis, who had played a match-winning knock in Qualifier 2, PBKS remained in contention. However, RCB's experienced bowling attack, featuring players who have previously won IPL titles, rose to the occasion. Krunal Pandya was particularly influential, delivering an economical spell (2 for 17) during the middle overs. He bowled with pace and accuracy, cramping the right-handers and crucially dismissing Prabhsimran Singh with a cleverly flighted delivery. Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2 for 38) also provided vital breakthroughs. The dismissal of PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer, caught attempting an aggressive shot off Romario Shepherd, proved to be a significant turning point, leaving Punjab needing 112 runs from the final 62 balls.
Shashank Singh's Heroics and Tense Climax
Despite the mounting pressure and loss of key batsmen like Marcus Stoinis, Shashank Singh played a remarkable lone hand for Punjab Kings. He launched a stunning counter-attack, finishing unbeaten on an explosive 61 off just 30 balls. His assault, particularly against Josh Hazlewood in the latter stages, kept PBKS's hopes flickering. However, with 29 runs required from the final over, the task proved too steep. Although Shashank hit Hazlewood for four boundaries in the final over, including three sixes, a couple of initial dot balls by Hazlewood had effectively sealed the contest.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru's long and often arduous wait for an IPL trophy has finally ended. Their victory, built on a resilient batting performance and a disciplined, experienced bowling display in a high-pressure final, marks a historic moment for the franchise and its vast fanbase. While Punjab Kings fought valiantly, particularly through Shashank Singh's late fireworks, RCB's ability to execute their plans under pressure on a challenging surface ultimately secured them their maiden IPL championship in a fittingly dramatic conclusion to the 2025 season.
