The 2025 IPL final saw RCB triumph in a thrilling contest, defeating Punjab Kings, by 6 runs (Photo: Instagram/Virat Kohli)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), cricket franchise of Bengaluru, has finally won its first Indian Premier League (IPL), T-20 cricket league in India, capping an 18-year wait that has tried the patience and devotion of millions of supporters of the team worldwide.
This moment will be etched forever in the memory of cricket fans, especially supporters of RCB. The 2025 IPL final saw RCB triumph in a thrilling contest, defeating Punjab Kings, by 6 runs, in a match that encapsulated the very spirit of the sport, with resilience, passion and the unwavering hope of a devoted fanbase.
Since the inception of the IPL in 2008, RCB has been one of the tournament’s most popular and widely followed franchises, boasting cricketing legends such as former Indian captain Virat Kohli, former South African captain AB de Villiers and former captain of West Indies Chris Gayle. Despite assembling star-studded lineups year after year, the team had, until now, never managed to cross the final hurdle. RCB had finished as runner-up thrice, in 2009, 2011 and 2016, falling agonisingly short of glory every time.
According to official IPL statistics, the team has consistently been among the top contenders, with 10 playoff appearances in 18 seasons, but the elusive trophy had always slipped through their fingers.
This year, however, was different. RCB’s campaign was marked by a remarkable blend of youthful exuberance and experienced leadership. Kohli, who has been with the franchise since the very first season and captained the side for a record 140 matches, played a pivotal role both on and off the field. His 2025 season tally of 657 runs at an average of 54.75, as per IPL official data, was instrumental in RCB’s march to the final.
Virat Kohli attributed the win not just to his current team mates, but also the legendary duo of Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers (Photo: Instagram/Royalchallengers.bengaluru)
The win was special for all, but more so for Kohli, who had patiently played his role in each season, biding his time and he turned emotional on the field itself, when it finally dawned on him that the title was in RCB’s grip, even though three balls were yet to be bowled.
When the match was finally over, Kohli broke down on the ground even as his team mates ran towards him and surrounded him. While his team was celebrating the victory, Kohli ran towards Bollywood actress and his wife, Anushka Sharma to celebrate his big win.
After sealing the win, in the post-match interview, Kohli attributed the win not just to his current team mates, but also the legendary duo of Gayle and de Villiers, saying that just like him, they had never given up on RCB.
Off the field, the fans, too, loved every moment of the match and the victory celebrations. “Finally, after 18 long years, RCB has won the IPL! As a die-hard fan of both Kohli and RCB, I have watched every IPL season with the same enthusiasm and hope that this would be our year, and at last, that day has arrived. Seeing Kohli cry was an incredibly emotional moment for me. Witnessing de Villiers and Gayle lift the trophy was absolutely overwhelming. The dream has truly come true,” Gautam Gupta, Senior Business Analyst, Indifi Technologies, a fintech company in Gurugram, Haryana, tells Media India Group.
For many, this victory was more than just a sporting achievement, it was a personal milestone.
“Winning the IPL is truly like a dream come true for me. Even though we were not the ones on the field, this victory felt deeply personal, all thanks to Kohli. I am still trying to process the fact that we have finally done it. After 18 long years, the drought has come to an end,” Vansh Jairath, Account Executive, Collective Artists Network, a talent management company in Mumbai, tells Media India Group.
“As much as every RCB player wanted to win, the team was determined to claim this trophy especially for Kohli. He truly deserves it, having stayed with the same team since the very beginning of the IPL,” Jairath adds.
For many RCB fans, the journey has been one of unwavering support, often in the face of relentless criticism.
“I am a very emotional person, especially when it comes to my favourite cricket team, RCB. Whenever I interact with other fans, I often find myself facing a lot of criticism about my team. Despite the negative comments, I always stand up and defend my team passionately, even if I am alone in doing so. Honestly, the support and loyalty I feel for RCB is truly amazing, and sometimes it is hard to put my emotions into words. The journey of being an RCB fan has taught me patience and perseverance, and I am proud to stand by my team through thick and thin,” Meenakshi Sharma, Producer, India Today Live TV, a news channel, in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, tells Media India Group.
IPL 2025 champions arrived in Bengaluru on Wednesday with the trophy following a grand welcome by Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, DK Shivakumar at the airport. The roads between HAL Airport and Vidhana Soudha were packed with fans cheering for RCB team players.
Unfortunately, the welcome turned into a stampede in which reportedly, seven people died and 25 were injured.
As the festivities go on, RCB’s victory is a tribute to the strength of tenacity, devotion and the unbreakable bond between a team and its supporters.