RCB Break the Curse: Crowned IPL 2025 Champions After Last-Over Thriller vs PBKS

Rajat Patidar leads Royal Challengers to maiden IPL title with tense 6-run win in Ahmedabad

Arun Upadhayay 2 weeks agoLast Updated: June 7, 2025

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RCB Break the Curse: Crowned IPL 2025 Champions After Last-Over Thriller vs PBKS

Ahmedabad, June 3 — Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have finally laid their ghosts to rest. After 17 long years and three lost finals, the franchise has etched its name into IPL folklore, clinching the IPL 2025 title with a dramatic 6-run win over Punjab Kings (PBKS) in a nervy contest at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

It wasn’t the most dominant performance. It didn’t need to be. What it was — was gritty, tense, and soaked in redemption.

Kohli Holds the Center, Support Acts Shine

Put in to bat, RCB began like they’ve done all season: brisk and aggressive. Phil Salt swung hard, cracked a four and a six, and departed. Enter Virat Kohli, who, despite the buzz, wasn’t flashy — just steady. His 43 off 35 wasn’t headline-grabbing, but it stitched the innings.

Cameos from Mayank Agarwal (24), Rajat Patidar (26), and later, a punchy burst from Jitesh Sharma (24 off 10), helped RCB post a total that always looked… competitive, but not safe.

They ended with 190/9, a score that seemed maybe 10 runs light — until it wasn’t.

Arshdeep, Jamieson Keep PBKS in the Game

Kyle Jamieson, the towering Kiwi, had a night of highs and heartbreak. He took 3 wickets, including the big ones of Patidar and Livingstone, but leaked 48 runs. Arshdeep Singh was once again clutch at the death, picking 3/40, including two scalps in the 19th over.

Azmatullah Omarzai and Chahal chipped in, but Punjab couldn’t quite squeeze in those quiet overs RCB had managed later.

Inglis and Shashank Give Hope — Then It Slips

Chasing 191, PBKS started with intent. Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh found boundaries early, and then Josh Inglis exploded — 39 off 23 with four towering sixes. But the game turned when Krunal Pandya came on.

He removed both Prabhsimran and Inglis. The dot balls began to pile up. Shreyas Iyer fell tamely, and suddenly, Punjab were chasing shadows.

That’s when Shashank Singh did the unthinkable. A fifty came off 29 balls, laced with sixes that had the Ahmedabad crowd stunned silent. But with no one sticking around — Stoinis, Omarzai, all gone cheaply — he was left stranded.

Punjab needed 12 off the final over. Hazlewood was under the pump, Shashank on strike. But it came down to 7 off the last ball. Shashank swung, missed. RCB erupted.

A Win Written in Sweat, Not Stars

This wasn’t a Kohli classic or a Patidar masterclass. It was team grit. It was Krunal Pandya’s 2/17, Yash Dayal’s control, and a collective refusal to crumble under pressure.

Josh Hazlewood may have gone for 54 runs, but he bowled that final over. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, unfazed, delivered quietly effective overs at key junctures. Even the impact sub, Suyash Sharma, kept it tidy.

RCB didn’t dominate. They survived.

The End of “Ee Sala Cup Namde” Memes

Let’s be honest — RCB memes were a tradition. The “Ee Sala Cup Namde” jokes, the Twitter meltdowns, the finals heartbreaks — it was almost lore. Not anymore.

Rajat Patidar, leading in just his first season as captain, has scripted history as the first uncapped Indian to win the IPL as captain. The call to bench Tim David, to trust youth, and to back players like Jitesh and Krunal — it all clicked, eventually.

The team that was once called top-heavy, star-dependent, and cursed — is now IPL 2025 champion.

Scoreboard Snapshot:

RCB: 190/9 (Kohli 43, Jitesh 24, Jamieson 3/48)
PBKS: 184/7 (Shashank Singh 61*, Inglis 39, Krunal Pandya 2/17)
Result: Royal Challengers Bengaluru won by 6 runs
Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
Player of the Match: Shashank Singh (PBKS)

As the fireworks lit up the Gujarat sky and red shirts danced in the stands, one chant echoed louder than any other:

Ee Sala Cup Namde. For real this time.

Credit: ESPNCricInfo & JioHotstar

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Arun Upadhayay

Sports Contributor at Hindustan Herald | Web

Arun Upadhayay is a sports journalist and former district-level cricketer with over four years of experience in event production and digital content. Currently freelancing with the India Today Group, Arun brings a deep understanding of sports and storytelling. His work blends expert analysis, live event insights, and engaging coverage of the game.