On June 4, 2025, Bengaluru was buzzing with excitement as thousands of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fans gathered at Vidhana Soudha to celebrate the team's first Indian Premier League (IPL) Championship. After 18 years of waiting, RCB finally won their first IPL trophy after winning against Punjab Kings by six runs in the nail-biting final in Ahmedabad. The streets were full of excited fans waving red and black flags and chanting the ever popular "Ee Sala Cup Namde."

The festivities were officially launched with a grand felicitation ceremony at Vidhana Soudha, with Karnataka's political leaders stepping forward to felicitate the champions. The team bus, headed by skipper Rajat Patidar and star batsman Virat Kohli, was met with an avalanche of people. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar personally felicitated the players, presenting them with garlands, Mysuru turbans, and plaques in appreciation of their great achievement.

The energy was palpable as fans of the RCB from all parts of the city came to cheer for their heroes irrespective of their political allegiance. Social media was saturated with pictures and videos of the celebratory mood while chants and cheers spilled over into the surrounding areas. The victory was not only a testament to the team’s dedication but also a celebration of Bengaluru’s unwavering love for cricket.

Grand Celebrations Across Bengaluru

Beyond the Vidhana Soudha, the city was alive with festivities. Streets from HAL Airport to M. Chinnaswamy Stadium saw large crowds clad in RCB colors, creating a vibrant sea of red and black. An open-top bus parade was also planned but scrapped in light of Bengaluru's traffic and congestion. Instead, the team was able to get to Chinnaswamy Stadium for a special celebratory event.

Watch the video here

THE CROWD OUTSIDE VIDHANA SOUDHA FOR RCB 🤯 pic.twitter.com/13YK0AzpYz

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) June 4, 2025

Also Read: RCB create history on and off field with massive IPL viewership milestone

At the stadium, the players were joined by RCB legends like AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle, adding to the excitement.  Fireworks lit the sky while chants of "Ee Sala Cup Namde" reverberated throughout the city. Bengaluru will bond as a city of pride and joy with this historic victory, thanks to spectacular play and key-player performances. All RCB fans will cherish these memories forever.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) stars went wild celebrating their historic win in the Indian Premier League (IPL), igniting social media posts. The players all returned from Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium, led by skipper Rajat Patidar and backed by icon Virat Kohli, to their hotel in very high spirits. Video footage of the arriving players showed them dancing to everyone's excitement, with Kohli, Krunal Pandya, Patidar, and the vice-captain Jitesh Sharma joining the festivities.

Though Kohli kept his dance moves minimal, it was Patidar who stole the show in the lively dancing, appearing to fully enjoy their historic win. RCB won the IPL title for the first time in franchise history with a thrilling six-wicket win over the Punjab Kings (PBKS), and after an 18-year wait, Kohli finally captured his first IPL title. After a competent performance from the spinners and standout death bowling, RCB wrapped it up despite a battling performance from Shashank Singh, who was unbeaten on 61.

In an emotional post-match interview, Kohli dedicated the win to RCB's loyal fanbase and reflected on his long journey. “It’s been 18 long years. I’ve given this team my youth, prime, and experience. Every season I tried to win it and gave it my all. To finally have it—it’s an unbelievable feeling,” he said, visibly moved.

Tribute to AB de Villiers

Kohli paid a heartfelt tribute to his ex-teammate AB de Villiers and the huge impact he made on the franchise. “What ABD has done for the franchise is incredible. I told him, ‘this win is as much yours as it is ours.’ Even in retirement, he still remains one of the most effective players in our history,” Kohli said.

Watch the video here

Entry but make it BOLD. ❤️‍🔥 pic.twitter.com/JihkcQCJXO

— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) June 4, 2025

Also Read: WATCH: RCB skipper Rajat Patidar speaking 'Ee Sala Cup Namdu' after winning their Maiden IPL title

De Villiers is still RCB’s second-highest run-scorer with 4,522 runs in 157 matches, averaging 41.10 and a strike rate of 158.33. He has scored 2 hundreds and 37 fifties, and his legacy lives on and continues to inspire the team and fans.

After 18 seasons of heartbreak, suspense, and unrelenting faith, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at last captured their very first IPL trophy. In a high-voltage final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, RCB overcame Punjab Kings (PBKS) by six runs to earn their place in the league's history books. The much-awaited victory placed RCB supporters in a tizzy as the iconic chant "Ee Sala Cup Namdu"—essentially "This year, the cup is ours"—echoed through stands and social media.

The road to this achievement was laid out with close calls and emotional reverses. RCB has had strong teams and mythic players over the years, but that elusive title always seemed to elude them—until now. Tuesday night’s victory was not just about the win; it was about validation, redemption, and fulfilling the dreams of a loyal fanbase that never stopped believing. It marked the ultimate reward for a franchise that has carried the weight of expectations for nearly two decades.

In the final, PBKS won the toss and chose to bowl, which on paper looked like a smart decision as they held RCB to 190 for 9. Virat Kohli scored the top score with a well-timed 43 off 35 balls, and Rajat Patidar added a rapid 26. In spite of a late burst of wickets—that included three off Arshdeep Singh in the last over—RCB managed to put up a fighting total. In response, Punjab Kings battled valiantly but collapsed under pressure, scoring just 184/7 as RCB's bowlers showed nerves of steel.

RCB's Bowlers Hold Firm in Final Moments

Krunal Pandya was RCB's ball hero, posting a masterful spell of 2 for 17 from his four overs and snuffing out PBKS's middle-order pace. His mastery and variations in the middle overs proved to be crucial in mounting pressure, enabling RCB's pacers to finish the game in the death.

Watch the video here

Moments he will never forget 🏆
Moments they will never forget 🤩

🎥 Virat Kohli 🤝 The #RCB faithful ❤#TATAIPL | #RCBvPBKS | #Final | #TheLastMile | @RCBTweets | @imVkohli pic.twitter.com/ObyJxRI0C0

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) June 3, 2025

Also Read: IPL 2025 Awards: MVP, Best Bowler, Best Catch & More

For PBKS, the chase was missing a conclusive finisher in the face of a good beginning. Though Arshdeep Singh and Kyle Jamieson impressed with the ball, it was not sufficient to counter RCB's defensive solidity. As Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar held the trophy aloft, the "Ee Sala Cup Namdu" slogans did not just echo as an overused slogan but also as a declaration of satisfaction for millions of fans all over the world.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) broke their 18-year title drought in 2025 when they won their first-ever Indian Premier League (IPL), defeating Punjab Kings in a thrilling final by a margin of six runs. The match, held on June 3 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, ushered in a new chapter in RCB's history. Amid the wild celebrations, one moment stood out—RCB skipper Rajat Patidar passionately declaring, “Ee Sala Cup Namdu,” a phrase that has long echoed through the hearts of RCB fans.

In a lot of ways, the iconic Kannada slogan, which translates to "This time, the cup is ours," has been both a blessing and a curse for RCB fans over the years. After witnessing so many near misses, Patidar shouting out "Ee Sala Cup Namdu" in elation following the final win re-awakened a river of emotions from the fans. The phrase, which was once out of reach of the fans, was now validated. For the first time, it was no longer just a battle cry but reality. 

Rajat Patidar, who led the team with a cool head and vision all season long, was excellent in the final as captain and with the bat. Indeed, leadership - along with strong senior executive performances from Virat Kohli and others - enabled RCB to manufacture 190 runs in the first innings and successfully defend that total. When Patidar shouted the famous phrase on live television, it was a sequence of emotions for a fanbase that had waited nearly twenty years for the magical moment when they could be champions. 

Watch the video here

Ee sala cup namdu🔥.... The Rajaaaat king🔥 pic.twitter.com/fcWlgCSIUN

— 🦅STEYN🧡 (@SrhSteyn) June 3, 2025

Also Read: [WATCH] RCB vs PBKS: Virat Kohli signs the camera after winning IPL 2025 Final

A New Era Begins for RCB

With a thrust of that emphatic declaration, Patidar not only celebrated a victory; he made a 10-year dream into a celebratory proclamation of confidence. A slogan that represented unfulfilled promise is now a new era for RCB. Within minutes after the confused firework display in Ahmedabad, fans across the globe finally heard the words they were consistently hoping to hear—"Ee Sala Cup Namdu" is no longer a dream, but it is history.