RCB vs PBKS Highlights, IPL 2025 Final, Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Punjab Kings: Royal Challengers Bengaluru finally broke their 18-year curse, clinching their first-ever IPL title in a heart-stopping finale. Virat Kohli was visibly overwhelmed, tears streaming down his face as he lifted the long-awaited trophy, a moment of raw triumph and relief for the RCB faithful.
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| Credit _ Hindustan Times |
RCB vs PBKS Highlights, IPL 2025 Final, Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Punjab Kings: In a nail-biting finish at Ahmedabad, Punjab Kings clinched their first-ever IPL title, stunning Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a high-octane final. Shreyas Iyer, captaining PBKS, lifted the trophy as RCB’s 18-year quest for IPL glory continued, leaving Virat Kohli visibly emotional but gracious in defeat.
Match Summary:
RCB, batting first, posted a competitive 196/7 in their 20 overs, powered by a blazing 67 off 42 balls from Virat Kohli, who anchored the innings with characteristic grit. Rajat Patidar (38 off 24) and Liam Livingstone (29 off 15) provided late fireworks, but PBKS’s Arshdeep Singh (2/34) and Yuzvendra Chahal (3/41) kept the total within reach. The pitch, known for high-scoring chases, promised a tight contest.
PBKS started aggressively, with openers Priyansh Arya (33 off 19) and Josh Inglis (28 off 16) racing to 55/0 in the powerplay. Josh Hazlewood broke through, dismissing Arya with a sharp bouncer, caught by Phil Salt at deep square leg. Shreyas Iyer (45 off 32) and Marcus Stoinis (52 off 29) then forged a 78-run stand, keeping PBKS ahead of the asking rate. Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s double strike in the 16th over, removing Stoinis and Nehal Wadhera in quick succession, sparked hopes of an RCB comeback, but Shashank Singh’s fearless 34* off 14 balls, including 18 runs off Yash Dayal’s final over, sealed the chase with two balls to spare. PBKS finished at 197/5, winning by 5 wickets.
Key Moments:
RCB’s Innings: RCB reached 62/1 after the powerplay, with Kohli and Mayank Agarwal (22 off 15) setting a solid platform. Chahal’s introduction saw Agarwal miscue a lofted cover drive, caught by Azmatullah Omarzai. Kohli’s 67 featured only three boundaries, reflecting PBKS’s disciplined bowling, led by Kyle Jamieson (1/38) and Arshdeep’s variations. Livingstone’s late cameo, including two sixes off Vijaykumar Vyshak, pushed RCB close to 200.
PBKS’s Chase: The turning point came in the 13th over when Stoinis smashed Krunal Pandya for two sixes, shifting momentum. Despite Bhuvneshwar’s heroics (2/29), Shashank’s composure under pressure, especially against Hazlewood’s death bowling, proved decisive. Anushka Sharma’s anxious expressions in the stands mirrored RCB’s fading hopes as Shashank’s final six sparked wild celebrations in the PBKS camp.
Standout Performances: Shashank Singh earned Player of the Match for his match-winning blitz, while Chahal’s three wickets kept PBKS in check during RCB’s innings. Kohli’s valiant knock wasn’t enough to end RCB’s title drought.
Playing XIs:
RCB: Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Mayank Agarwal, Rajat Patidar (c), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (w), Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood.
PBKS: Priyansh Arya, Josh Inglis (w), Shreyas Iyer (c), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Azmatullah Omarzai, Kyle Jamieson, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal.
Post-Match: Shreyas Iyer dedicated the win to PBKS’s loyal fans, while Kohli vowed RCB would return stronger. The match, a fitting finale to IPL 2025, showcased T20 cricket’s unpredictability, with PBKS emerging as deserving champions.
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