RCB’s Fairytale Triumph: End of an 18-Year Quest for Glory

Ahmedabad : Under the brilliant floodlights of the Narendra Modi Stadium, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) finally exorcised nearly two decades of heartbreak and “so-close” finishes by clinching their maiden Indian Premier League title. In a pulsating final against the Punjab Kings, RCB eked out a six-run victory to crown a journey marked by unwavering loyalty, fleeting successes, and unfulfilled promises.

A Night to Remember

When Virat Kohli, the franchise’s eternal talisman, watched the final ball sail harmlessly over the boundary, it marked more than a mere victory—it was an emotional release for fans who had endured 18 seasons of “almost there.” Kohli, who has been synonymous with RCB since the team’s inception in 2008, collapsed onto the turf weeping, as teammates surrounded him in a moment that will be etched in IPL folklore. In his 18th season with RCB and having never donned another team’s jersey, Kohli finally attained the summit he had long striven for—a testament to perseverance and franchise allegiance.

Building the Winning Total

Electing to bat first on a sluggish Ahmedabad surface, RCB managed a competitive 190 for 9 in their allotted 20 overs. While the final total did not sparkle, it was underpinned by critical cameos and strategic batting. Kohli once again anchored the innings, compiling a composed 43 off 35 balls—his trademark cover drives and lap shots punctuated by three well-timed fours. As RCB reached 46/1 in five overs and 87/2 at the halfway mark, their momentum appeared strong. However, wickets fell at regular intervals, courtesy of disciplined spells from the Punjab attack.

Captain Rajat Patidar, thrust into the leadership role earlier in the season, lent momentum with a brisk 26 off 16 balls. He threaded two critical boundaries to keep RCB in front of the required rate. Yet, as the innings entered its final quintet of overs, RCB lost five wickets while adding an aggressive 58 runs. Phil Salt chipped in 16 off just nine deliveries, smashing two booming sixes, but also fell in a mass of wickets—a telling microcosm of RCB’s 2025 campaign: spectacular flashes of power, interspersed with unexpected collapses.

The defining moment of RCB’s innings arrived in the 20th over. Set for a surge toward a 200-plus total, the onus fell to left-arm quick Arshdeep Singh to salvage pride for Punjab. In a spellbinding over, Arshdeep claimed three wickets for a mere three runs—dismissing Romario Shepherd (17), Krunal Pandya (4), and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1) in successive deliveries. His final figures of 3/27 underscored how Punjab managed to stifle RCB at 190, rather than let them overrun the target.

Punjab’s Fluctuating Chase

In pursuit of 191, the Punjab Kings—making just their second final appearance since 2014—seemed to navigate their chase with relative ease initially. Openers Prabhsimran Singh (79) and Priyansh Arya (24) forged a brisk 43-run partnership for the first wicket, dispatching four wides and searing through the field in 4.6 overs. The partnership demanded the first breakthrough, and Hazlewood delivered by dismissing Priyansh off his third delivery, caught at deep mid-wicket.

Prabhsimran, the innings’s stalwart, advanced to 79 before darting down the track to Krunal Pandya’s left-arm spin and was neatly stumped by skipper Kohli feet-up. When captain Shreyas Iyer fell for 1—juggling a sluggish delivery from spinner Vijaykumar Yadav to fall via stumping—Punjab’s prospects dimmed. Josh Inglis (39 off 23) and Shashank Singh (unbeaten 61 off 30) pushed the chase precariously close, but RCB’s bowlers maintained tight lines.

The pivotal moment arrived in the 17th over. With 55 needed off 22 balls, veteran Marcus Stoinis strode to the crease, launching the first ball for six, only to succumb to Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s impeccable yorker on the next delivery. Bhuvneshwar’s mastery under duress lifted RCB’s spirits, and the early strike snuffed Punjab’s late charge.

In those penultimate overs, Krunal Pandya emerged as RCB’s knight in shining armor. Leasing out 2/17 across his four overs, Pandya dissected the middle order. He claimed three vital scalps: his pruning away of Inglis, Omarzai, and the experienced Stoinis removed the catalysts of Punjab’s surge. As the required rate soared and wickets tumbled, Shashank Singh’s valiant 61 went in vain; Punjab reached only 184/7 at the close—tragically six short of glory.

Redemption at Last

For 18 long seasons, RCB had suffered agonizing near-misses: runner-up finishes in 2009, 2011, and 2016 had left fans stockpiling memes on “RCB heartbreak,” “Kohli’s curse,” and “Kohli’s despondent fist pumps.” Each year—with variations of Glenn Maxwell’s late flourish, AB de Villiers’s magical finishes, or Kohli’s dazzling centuries—RCB laid foundations only to see them collapse in the waning moments. This heartbreak fostered a unique brand of loyalty: a fanbase defined by hope and undying faith.

“This isn’t just a trophy,” Kohli said in a post-match press conference, his voice thick with emotion. “It’s a lifetime of emotions—every sleepless night and every inch of belief. We waited so long; I waited so long.” In 2025, that belief finally bore fruit.

RCB’s journey to the final was a study in collective synergy. After adding Liam Livingstone’s late-season power-hitting, Yash Dayal’s swing bowling early in the campaign, and Chetan Sakariya’s left-arm variations, RCB’s management blended experienced stars—Kohli, Maxwell, Dinesh Karthik—with emerging Indian talent—Rajat Patidar, Krunal Pandya, and their home-grown pace battery. Captain Patidar’s calm demeanor in pressure situations has often been likened to a veteran, and his leadership in the final-wicket stands reflected his unflappable temperament.

A Moment for the Ages

The final’s conclusion witnessed pandemonium. As the last ball deflected to the boundary, confirming RCB’s slender victory, fans rushed the field in euphoria. Wild celebrations ensued: confetti cannons lit up the night, fireworks danced overhead, and players embraced in tears of joy. For the first time, RCB’s ever-loyal supporters were rewarded with an IPL trophy.

These final scenes—Kohli’s emotional collapse, the jubilant Patidar and Pandya mixing, and the chants of “RCB, RCB”—etched themselves into cricket’s collective memory. After 18 seasons, RCB had finally matched Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, and Kolkata Knight Riders on the winner’s dais.

Looking Forward

By lifting the 2025 IPL trophy, RCB demonstrated that loyalty, tempered by relentless ambition, can indeed overcome the specter of “so near, yet so far.” But beyond the ephemeral glory, this triumph reshapes RCB’s narrative. Gone are the “nearly men”; in their place stand champions, their legacy no longer one of heartbreak but of hard-earned redemption.

Moving forward, RCB must balance the exhilaration of success with the challenge of sustaining excellence. As Virat Kohli contemplates retirement from franchise cricket, leadership responsibilities may increasingly fall on Rajat Patidar and Glenn Maxwell. Similarly, RCB’s scouting and development programs for younger Indian talent—like Yash Dayal and Shamshuz Nasir—will determine if the franchise can sustain its winning momentum.

Whether RCB defends their title in 2026 or endures fresh heartbreak, the memory of Ahmedabad 2025 will endure. For now, however, 18 years of “almost there” have been banished in one night of sheer ecstasy—a fitting finale to RCB’s long quest and a testament to cricket’s capacity for storytelling at its most dramatic.