In the IPL 2025 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Royal Challengers Bengaluru defeated Punjab Kings to win their first IPL championship. For PBKS, who had enjoyed an incredible tournament run, it was a painful night.
In Qualifier 1, RCB trounced PBKS by a humiliating eight wickets with sixty deliveries remaining. In Qualifier 2, they had to play the Mumbai Indians in Ahmedabad.
Being the first team in IPL playoff history to chase down a target of 200 or more, PBKS easily won a historic five-wicket match.
Talking Points
1. Kohli is unable to compensate for his slow start.
Virat Kohli was never able to get going while he was at the crease on a surface that was reasonably batting-friendly. There were only three fours in his 43-run knock off 35 balls. After a brief lecture, Azmatullah Omarzai finally dismissed him.
2. RCB hitters start but stop before they glow
Following strong batting beginnings, Mayank Agarwal (24 off 18), Rajat Patidar (26 off 16), Liam Livingstone (25 off 15), and Jitesh Sharma (24 off 10) all fell in the 20s. If RCB had taken advantage of their starts, they would have ended up with much more.
3. Iyer breaks down when it counts most
Iyer’s incredible batting and captaincy campaign did not pay off in the championship game. He only managed one run off of two deliveries with the willow before being removed at a pivotal point in the chase after nicking a delivery from Romario Shepherd behind to the wicketkeeper.
4. Krunal’s period of austerity tips the scales in favour of RCB.
Throughout his entire quota, Krunal only gave up one boundary, a six. The difference-maker turned out to be the spin-bowling all-rounder’s spell. Despite wickets falling all around him, Shashank remained erect. But in the end, his 61* (30) was insufficient.
Who Said What?
Krunal Pandya (Player of the Match)
When we batted in the first innings, I was sitting outside and chatting with batters, I realised the slower you bowl the better. But in this format as a bowler you need guts to do that because the margin of error is small. I just backed myself and thought that if I’m able to vary my pace and keep it more on the slower side, I’ll create chances rather than just coming and firing it in. What has been my biggest strength is learning what the situation requires. I’ve always backed my gut and instinct. Today also I realised if I have to take a couple of wickets, I have to be brave. If you would’ve bowled quick on that surface, it would’ve been a good batting wicket. But if you varied your pace, there was some help. In the second innings it got better as well compared to the first innings. When I joined RCB I said that I loved winning trophies. After three-and-a-half months, glad I was able to fulfil what I said on Day 1. Been pretty good – 10 years, 4 IPL trophies. Told Hardik also on the phone, there will be 9 IPL trophies in the Pandya household in 10 years.
Shreyas Iyer (losing captain)
Dejected to be honest but the way our boys came up to the occasion, it wasn’t meant to be but lot of credit goes to the support staff, the owners and everyone else who’s participated in this. Considering the last game, I personally felt that 200 was a par score. They bowled brilliantly, especially Krunal, he carries a lot of experience. I believe that was the turning point. I am very proud of each and every individual who has participated in this team. There are a lot of youngsters who are playing their first season, they’ve shown a lot of fearlessness. We wouldn’t be here without them, kudos to them. We have to be here and win the trophy next year. The way we turned up to each and with a belief of saying we can win this game. Hopefully we can be here next season and play some good cricket.
Rajat Patidar (winning captain)
I think it is really special for me and special for Virat Kohli and all the fans who have supported for years. They deserve it. After the Qualifier 1, at that time we thought we could do this. I think 190 was a good score on this track because it was a bit slow. The way bowlers executed their plans was tremendous to watch. He’s a wicket-taking bowlers. Whenever I come under pressure, I look for KP. Suyash also bowled really well throughout the season. And all the fast bowlers – Bhuvi, Yash, Hazlewood and the way Romario came in and the way he gave 2-3 overs and the breakthrough was special. For me it’s a great opportunity to do captaincy under him and it was a great learning for me. As I said he deserves it more than anyone else. Virat Kohli and all the fans. Everyone who has supported – the management, support staff – the way they’ve supported the players was beautiful. I just want to say one line for the fans – Ee sala Cup Namdu (this year, the cup is yours).
Feelings after ending 18-year wait for the elusive IPL trophy
This win is as much for the fans as it is for the team. It’s been 18 long years. I’ve given this team my youth, prime and experience. I’ve tried to win it every season, gave it everything I have. To finally have it is an unbelievable feeling. Never thought this day would come, I was overcome with emotion after the last ball was bowled. Gave each and every ounce of my energy and it’s an amazing feeling. What ABD has done for the franchise is tremendous, told him ‘this win is as much yours as it is ours. I want you to celebrate with us’. He’s been the POTM most times in the franchise despite being retired for four years. Tells you the impact he’s had on the league, team and me. He deserves to be on the podium, lifting the cup.
Where does this win rank on the scale of monumental moments?
Well, it’s right up there, if I have to be honest. As I said, I’ve given everything that I had for the last 18 years. I’ve stayed loyal to this team, no matter what. I’ve had moments where I thought otherwise, but I stuck to this team. I stood behind them, they stood behind me. And I always dreamt of winning it with them. And this is far more special than winning it with anyone else because my heart is with Bangalore, my soul is with Bangalore. And as I said, this is the team I’m going to play for till the last day that I play the IPL. So this one is absolutely right up there because you know, as a sportsman, when you grind for something, and this is a very high intensity, high quality tournament, which is of great value in world cricket today. And I’m someone that wants to win the big tournaments, the big moments, and this one was missing. And tonight, I’m going to sleep like a baby.
What keeps driving that energy and that emotion, and that passion season after season?
Well, I have an opportunity to play this game for not many years. So there is an end date to our career, as you know. And by the time that I hang up my boots, I want to sit at home and say I gave it everything I had. So I look for ways to improve. I can’t play as an impact player, I want to feel 20 overs and make an impact in the field. That’s the kind of player I have been. And God’s blessed me with that perspective, with the talent. And then you find different ways to help the team. This management, this group of players has been outstanding, to be honest. They’ve gotten the right kind of players, match winners, people who take the game on. In the auction, a lot of people questioned our tactics. But by day two, we were very happy with what we had. And we had a lot of confidence in the strength of this group. And I want to give a big shout out to this team. It would not have been possible without each and every one in the squad, in the playing XI, the management backing the players, keeping us positive throughout when the going got tough. So it’s everyone’s. I don’t want to stand here and talk about myself. There’s a lot that’s spoken about me already. This win is for Bangalore. And it’s for each and every one of the players, and the families, and the whole management as well.
Importance of the Test format
You know, this moment is right up there with the best moments I’ve had in my career. But it still marks five levels under Test cricket. That’s how much I value Test cricket. And that’s how much I love Test cricket. So I would just urge the youngsters coming through, to treat that format with respect. Because if you perform in Test cricket, you walk around anywhere in the world, people look you in the eye and shake your hand and say, well done, you played the game really well. So if you want to earn respect in World cricket all over, take up Test cricket, give your heart and soul to it. And when you walk out with wonders the other side, then you gain respect to the cricket world with legends like yourself. Melting our hearts on the field and off the field. (4/4)
Jitesh Sharma
I won’t be able to express anything right now, I am very happy for Kohli because he has been with this franchise for 18 years and has been waiting for a trophy for 18 years. I can understand as a human how it feels if you wait for 18 years. I have said this before the start of this tournament as well, when you play for someone else you end up doing extraordinary things. When you play for yourself, you end up playing a bit conservatively and also feel a bit insecure, but when you want to do something for someone, something magical happens and that’s what happened tonight.
RCB mentor Dinesh Karthik
Massive. It’s a team that’s waited 18 years. Played a lot of good cricket, had to wait for its time. But it belongs to every fan here. Virat Kohli. The greats like AB and Gayle, they’ve all tried their hearts out. Couple of support staff in our team: Basu, Mane kaka, they’ve all waited 18 years. Really happy for them. Right from the start we believed we were a team that was good. We had a lot of bases covered. Great to see different boys stand up at different points of time. Even today, it was a high pressure game and they really pushed us. Not an easy wicket to bat on but I think we put up a score that was above-par. Batters felt it wasn’t easy to bat. There was a bit in the pitch. This game, the final, it’s not about the pitch, it’s about the emotion and the fire in the tank. Lot of credit to the support staff. Must say Andy Flower put us through the rigour. Really pushed us. And I think it made us good support staff. I’ve become a better batting coach than what I started. The way he’s groomed me and helped me. From the start he had a plan and a vision. Amazing work by the boys.
Phil Salt
It’s an unbelievable feeling right now. I don’t quite know where I am at the minute, I haven’t had much sleep. I’ve got a lucky charm now (on his newborn child), feeling over the moon. Everywhere we go we’re the best supported team. The fanbase is ridiculous, we absolutely love them. Thanks for supporting, thanks for coming out in numbers, we were behind the eight-ball to start but we saw the roar of the crowd, you’ve won more games for us than you think.
Josh Hazlewood
I think 190 was a very good score. I think the wicket was a little bit up and down, it may have gotten better as the night went on, but I think our guys fought it with the bat in the end to post that score, everyone just chipped in and the bowlers held their nerves, yeah it was a great result. It probably means everything, few of us come and go franchises, but to be there from the start and slug it out for 18 seasons (talking about Kohli) and to get the result tonight, I think you will see a bit of emotion.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
We knew the wicket is not easy. We thought 180 would be a good score to defend and we got 190 – 10 more than what we thought. And the way we executed our plans says a lot about the bowling unit. His (Krunal) spell changed the scenario for us. Change of pace wasn’t easy. We spoke about not overusing it and using other options along with the slower one as well.
India
