Royal Challengers Bengaluru, IPL 2025 champions. Their first one in 18 seasons. The 17-year-old drought finally comes to an end this time. RCB successfully defended their 190 against Punjab Kings. They defeated the Kings by six runs. Krunal Pandya displayed an exceptional bowling performance in the final.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru steady start
Phil Salt and Virat Kohli came to open for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Phil Salt started like a fire and was targeting Arshdeep Singh, but his innings did not go too far, and he fell in the second over to Kyle Jamieson. Shreyas Iyer takes a fine catch at mid-on. Mayank Aggarwal hit a few shots, and Virat tried a lot, but it was a scratchy start. Royal Challengers Bengaluru scored 55/1 in the powerplay.
Yuzi Chahal gives Punjab Kings their second breakthrough. Mayank’s slog sweep went straight to Arshdeep at deep square leg. Rajat Patidar, the RCB captain, took on spinners like he usually does, hitting Chahal for a six. Jamieson once again managed to take a crucial wicket for Kings, this time Rajat Patidar was out LBW.
Jitesh, Livingstone provides firepower, Arshdeep’s excellent bowling denies 200
Kohli and Livingstone got stuck for runs, but in the last over of Yuzi, they got 14 runs. In the next over, Omarzai pulled a stunner catch of Virat Kohli. Jitesh Sharma took his chance and hit two fours and as many as sixes. Jamieson, who bowled his first three overs exceptionally well, but in his last over, Jitesh and Livingstone hit three sixes. Living falling leg before in the same over.
Vyshak knocked back Jitesh’s stumps, and the Royal Challengers’ hope for reaching beyond 200 runs was crushed. Romario hit four and a six in the second last over but fell to Arshdeep Singh in the last over. Arshdeep gave only 3 runs in the last over and took three wickets. RCB made only 190/9 in their 20 overs.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s pace bowling started well
Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood tested PKBS batters with a short bowl, but both batters managed to get some boundaries. Priyansh Arya hit two successive fours to Hazlewood before Phil Salt took a boundary line blinder to dismiss him. Josh Inglis started well, but RCB’s pace bowling kept things tight.
Punjab Kings made 52/1 in the powerplay.
Krunal Pandya produced three runs over, but Suyash went for 15 runs in his first over. Krunal brought back the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the game with his magical bowling. He dismissed Prabhsimran Singh. In the next over, Shepherd took the most important wicket of the Punjab Kings batting line and the last match hero, Shreyas Iyer. Krunal Pandya, in his last over, dismissed danger man Josh Inglis and finished his four-over spell, just conceding 17 runs and taking two wickets. Nehal struggles to time the bowl.
Bhuvi’s excellent death bowling, RCB’s first title
Shashank hit two sixes in Hazlewood’s over and got 17 runs. Bhuvi came and dismissed Nehal and Stoinis in the same over. Azmatullah Omarzai the fall in 18th over off Yash Dayal. He hit four and a six in the second last over. In the final over, Punjab needs 29 runs from six balls. Hazlewood started with two dot balls, and Virat Kohli was in tears. Shashank hit 22 runs from the last four balls, but it was never enough. Royal Challengers Bengaluru clinched their first-ever IPL title.
Krunal Pandya, for his exceptional bowling, became Man of the Match.
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