Finally, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) ended their long wait for a trophy, as they lifted the IPL 2025 trophy after beating Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the Final by six runs in Ahmedabad on Tuesday night (June 3).

After Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer chose to field first, RCB scored 190/9 in 20 overs. In reply, Punjab Kings managed to score 184/7 in 20 overs, while they required 29 runs in the last over. Despite hitting three sixes and one four in the final four balls of the match, as Shashank Singh scored a fighting 61 not out off 30 balls with three fours and six sixes, it wasn’t enough for the Punjab franchise. 

For RCB, opener Virat Kohli scored 43 off 35 balls, while the team also had four useful 20s. 

Among the Punjab Kings bowlers, Arshdeep Singh (3/40) and Kyle Jamieson (3/48) picked up three wickets each. Meanwhile, the Player of the Match Krunal Pandya had the bowling figures of 4-0-17-2, and he was one among the two RCB bowlers with two wickets in the second innings, along with the pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2/38).

Here, we have brought the top 3 moments that changed the IPL 2025 Final: RCB vs PBKS

WATCH: RCB finally lift IPL Trophy after 18-year wait – Iconic Moment!

Virat Kohli's innings, which Punjab Kings missed

Although Virat Kohli may face criticism for his slow knock by scoring 43 off 35 balls with three fours, his presence allowed the other batters to play comfortably, and most importantly, rotating the strike continued in the crucial middle overs. His presence didn’t allow many dot balls for RCB in the middle overs (7th to 15th overs), as RCB played only nine dot balls during the period, while PBKS played 20 dot balls (excluding leg byes). Meanwhile, Kohli played only three dot balls in the match, including two dot balls in the middle overs (excluding his dismissal). Although RCB were losing wickets in their possible dominant moments, Kohli’s presence assured the balance in the innings to drive the team to a challenging total.

Krunal Pandya: Andy Flower’s special name proved once again

Krunal Pandya was the hero for RCB in the first game of the season when they beat the defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders in Kolkata. It was just a glimpse of his incredible IPL 2025 story, as the head coach Andy Flower was desperate to secure him for RCB in the IPL 2025 auction after previously working with him for the Lucknow Super Giants.

In the IPL 2025 final, Krunal delivered the best bowling figures of the match, 4-0-17-2, along with the most dot balls (12 dot balls). The left-arm spinner superbly controlled Punjab Kings’ middle overs while he took two important wickets of the set batters Prabhsimran Singh (26) and Josh Inglis (39). Krunal finished the season with 17 wickets, the joint second-most wickets for RCB in the IPL 2025, along with the best economy rate (at least bowled in two innings) for his team this season (8.23). 

Early dismissal of captain Shreyas Iyer  

Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer played many inspiring innings for his franchise in the IPL 2025. The leading run-scorer of the team this season was crucial for the Final as PBKS were expecting another strong batting performance from him. Coming to bat at no.4 in the ninth over after the dismissal of the set opener Prabhsimran Singh, PBKS skipper Iyer scored only one run as he was caught behind playing a lazy cut while facing the second delivery of the innings. That dismissal cost the team hugely, as they failed to rotate the strike properly.