Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) etched their name in history books on Tuesday night by winning their first-ever Indian Premier League (IPL) title, defeating Punjab Kings (PBKS) in a thrilling final at the Narendra Modi Stadium. After posting a total of 190 for 9, RCB held their nerve in the death overs to bowl out Punjab for 161 and secure a 29-run win.

PBKS, chasing 191, found themselves under immense pressure after regular setbacks despite resistance from Shashank Singh and Nehal Wadhera. The turning point came in the 17th over, when Bhuvneshwar Kumar picked up two crucial wickets, including that of Marcus Stoinis and Wadhera, dashing Punjab’s hopes of a comeback.

Earlier, Arshdeep Singh starred with the ball for Punjab, finishing with figures of 3 for 40. His fiery spell in the final over helped restrict RCB to 190, despite a 43-run contribution from Virat Kohli and brief cameos by the middle order. However, the target ultimately proved enough for Bengaluru’s disciplined bowling unit.

Kyle Jamieson picked three wickets but was expensive, conceding 48 runs in four overs. RCB’s bowling attack, led by Krunal Pandya (2 wickets) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2 for 24), maintained pressure throughout the innings. Josh Hazlewood also contributed with a key wicket in the powerplay.

With this win, RCB have finally ended their long wait for an IPL trophy, a moment celebrated with emotional scenes on the field and in the stands.

As the final winning confirmed, RCB sealed their historic IPL title, an emotional Virat Kohli was seen with tears in his eyes, overwhelmed by the long-awaited triumph. Having spent over a decade with the franchise, the win marked a deeply personal milestone for Kohli, who soaked in the atmosphere amid thunderous cheers from the Bengaluru fans. It was a moment of redemption, relief, and raw joy, reflecting the years of dedication he poured into the team.

Punjab Kings (PBKS) captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to field first against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the IPL 2025 final at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium, setting the stage for a historic clash.

Both teams, yet to claim an IPL title, fielded unchanged lineups from their previous matches, intensifying anticipation for a thrilling showdown. RCB secured their final berth with an eight-wicket thrashing of PBKS in Qualifier 1, while PBKS bounced back by defeating Mumbai Indians by five wickets in Qualifier 2.

The toss, conducted at 7:00 PM IST, followed a vibrant closing ceremony featuring Shankar Mahadevan’s tribute to the Indian Armed Forces. Despite earlier rain concerns, clear skies prevailed, ensuring an uninterrupted start at 7:30 PM IST.

Iyer, aiming for consecutive IPL titles after leading Kolkata Knight Riders to victory in 2024, emphasized staying calm under pressure, stating, “The crowd is electrifying. Staying composed brings the best results.” RCB captain Rajat Patidar, who also preferred to bowl, noted the hard surface favored a big score, treating the final as “another away game.”

RCB’s batting began with Phil Salt and Virat Kohli facing PBKS’s Arshdeep Singh, who conceded 13 runs in the first over, including a six and four by Salt. Kohli, chasing David Warner’s record for most fifties in an IPL season, aims to anchor RCB’s innings on a batting-friendly pitch known for high scores, with teams batting first crossing 200 in seven of eight matches this season at Ahmedabad.

Teams

Royal Challengers Bengaluru XI: Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Mayank Agarwal, Rajat Patidar (c), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood. Impact Subs: Suyash Sharma, Rasikh Salam, Manoj Bhandage, Tim Seifert, Swapnil Singh.

Punjab Kings XI: Priyansh Arya, Shreyas Iyer (c), Josh Inglis (wk), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Azmatullah Omarzai, Kyle Jamieson, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal. Impact Subs: Prabhsimran Singh, Xavier Bartlett, Harpreet Brar, Suryansh Shedge, Praveen Dubey.

On June 2, 2025, former RCB player Robin Uthappa shared an emotional message on X, rooting for RCB to end their 18-year title drought. “My heart’s with RCB tonight. We’ve waited long enough,” he posted, reflecting the high stakes for fans chanting “R-C-B” at the 132,000-capacity venue.

With RCB’s balanced attack, led by Kohli’s 614 runs this season, facing PBKS’s resilient lineup, bolstered by Iyer’s 603 runs, the final promises a fierce battle to etch a new champion’s name on the IPL trophy.

As the IPL 2025 season draws to a close, cricket fans can expect an evening that blends entertainment, emotion, and patriotism. The closing ceremony, scheduled to begin at 6:00 PM IST at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, will include a special tribute to the Indian Armed Forces, recognising their role in the successful Operation Sindoor.

Shankar Mahadevan to headline emotional performance

Leading the tribute will be renowned singer Shankar Mahadevan, joined by his sons Shivam and Siddharth Mahadevan. Their performance is designed not just to celebrate the success of Operation Sindoor but also to pay homage to the lives lost in the Pahalgam tragedy. The act is expected to be the emotional core of the evening, setting a respectful tone before the final showdown.

RCB and PBKS aim to break past records

On the cricketing front, the final features Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) — two teams with unfinished business.
RCB, who finished second on the points table with 19 points from 14 matches, secured their place in the final after an emphatic eight-wicket win over PBKS in Qualifier 1. Despite reaching three finals in 2009, 2011, and 2016, RCB have never clinched the title. PBKS, formerly known as Kings XI Punjab, reached the final once in 2014 but lost to Kolkata Knight Riders.

Where and when to watch the closing ceremony

The IPL 2025 closing ceremony will begin at 6:00 PM IST, followed by the toss at 7:00 PM and the match at 7:30 PM. Fans can watch the event live on JioStar, which will stream both the cultural segment and the final match.

With a mix of patriotic tribute and high-stakes cricket, the IPL 2025 final is set to be a memorable evening for fans across the country.