In an exciting IPL 2025 Final at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, on June 1, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) narrowly defeated Punjab Kings (PBKS) by 6 runs to deny PBKS their maiden IPL title after years of disappointment.

RCB managed to set a competitive score of 190/9, with Virat Kohli turning in the best performance for RCB with 43 off 35, followed by Rajat Patidar (26 off 16) and Liam Livingstone (25 off 15). PBKS picked up wickets with bowlers Arshdeep Singh (3/40) and Kyle Jamieson (3/48) while conceding runs at crucial times, although Vyshak Vijay Kumar bowled tightly for 1/30.

In pursuit of 191 runs, PBKS put up a fight, finishing on 184/7. Shashank Singh’s 61 off 30 balls at the end gave PBKS hope with contributions from Josh Inglis (39) and Prabhsimran Singh (26). RCB bowlers kept their composure with Krunal Pandya's great economical bowling (2/17), Bhuvneshwar Kumar's (2/38), and Yash Dayal’s (1/18 in 3 overs) fast and tight death bowling. Dayal’s penultimate over changed the course of the match and ultimately led RCB to lift the IPL trophy with all-round performances, which gave the lossless team a historic journey and fulfilled their long-waiting fan base’s dreams. Here are the key reasons that PBKS lost to RCB.

1. Lack of Support for Shashank Singh’s Heroics

From 61*, Shashank Singh scored a brilliant knock off in only 30 balls, but there was no support from the rest of the PBKS batting order. Josh Inglis (39) and Prabhsimran Singh (26) had starts, but the middle and death order lacked the finishing ability. Key elements of the collapse were the lack of stable partnerships and the failure to rotate the strike for long periods, which affected PBKS's reply, forcing pressure on them, and ultimately they fell 6 runs short of an achievable chase.

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2. Costly Bowling by Key Pacers

While taking wickets, pace bowlers Arshdeep Singh (3/40) and Kyle Jamieson (3/48) were expensive at key times for PBKS. Their inability to slow the opposition down led to PBKS conceding a very respectable 190, particularly at the end of the innings (38 runs off the last 2 overs). A failure to bowl tidy death overs undid their hard work during the earlier periods of their innings and led to RCB attacking freely.

3. No Major Wickets at the Right Time

PBKS failed to get key partnerships when necessary. Virat Kohli's 43 helped to build the foundation for RCB's inning, and PBKS did not provide him early, resulting in a steady contribution from both Patidar and Livingstone, which allowed RCB to control the run rate. In the middle overs, Punjab lacked penetration with the ball, and in a tight final like this, they would regret that.