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RCB End 18-Year Wait, Clinch First-Ever IPL Title with Thrilling Win Over Punjab Kings

RCB Win First IPL Title After 18-Year Wait vs PBKS
RCB Win First IPL Title After 18-Year Wait vs PBKS

The wait is finally over. After 18 years of heartbreaks, close calls, and memes, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have won their maiden IPL title, beating Punjab Kings (PBKS) by six runs in a dramatic final at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. Led by new captain Rajat Patidar, and with Virat Kohli at the heart of the story, RCB overcame the odds to finally bring the trophy home.

Emotional Kohli Crashes to the Ground in Tears

As Josh Hazlewood bowled the final delivery and RCB held on to a narrow lead, Virat Kohli dropped to his knees, overwhelmed with emotion. Eighteen seasons, one jersey, countless sacrifices—and finally, a reward. Kohli, who had already won a World Cup, World T20, and Champions Trophy, now has every major white-ball trophy in his cabinet.

RCB’s Bowlers Hold Their Nerve in a High-Scoring Thriller

Defending 190 on a flat surface, RCB’s bowlers showed incredible discipline and composure. Krunal Pandya starred with 2/17 in a game-changing spell, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Romario Shepherd chipped in at crucial moments.

PBKS had a flying start through Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh, but once spin was introduced, the collapse began. From 72/1, they slid to 98/4 in quick succession. Despite a fighting effort from Josh Inglis, who hit a quickfire 50, wickets kept tumbling. In the death overs, RCB’s experience made the difference.

Arshdeep’s Final Over Heroics Contain RCB to 190

RCB’s batting innings saw flashes of brilliance but was largely held back by tight bowling from PBKS. Phil Salt gave them a quick start, but it was Mayank Agarwal who steadied the innings after early blows. Kohli played the anchor but struggled for fluency, eventually falling for a slow 30.

Patidar, Livingstone, and Jitesh Sharma tried to inject momentum, but it was Romario Shepherd who added late fireworks. Still, a brilliant final over by Arshdeep Singh, where he picked up 3 wickets, restricted RCB to 190, a total that seemed just par on a batting-friendly surface.

Patidar’s Captaincy Seals His Name in RCB History

In his debut season as captain, Rajat Patidar delivered what legends like Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, and Kohli couldn’t—a title win. His bold bowling changes, especially trusting Krunal Pandya in crunch overs, proved to be the game-turning decision.

Ee Sala Cup Namde – At Last!

For RCB fans, this wasn’t just a trophy—it was an emotional release after nearly two decades of waiting. For Kohli, it was the crowning moment of an extraordinary career. And for Indian Premier League history, it was the end of an era where RCB went from being a meme to being champions.

June 3, 2025 will be etched forever in red and gold.

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Pooja Pagare is a passionate sports writer and analyst at TodaysMatchPrediction.com. While her roots lie in cricket, she brings the same level of detail and enthusiasm to a wide range of sports — from football and tennis to wrestling, kabaddi, and more.

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