RCB Crowned IPL 2025 Champions: 6-Run Thriller vs PBKS in Ahmedabad
The IPL 2025 Final Match Winner RCB marks a historic moment as Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Punjab Kings culminated in a thrilling 6-run victory for RCB at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, on June 3, 2025, at 7:30 PM IST. After 18 years of heartbreak, RCB finally entered the IPL champions club, ending their title drought in the IPL 2025 Final Match, Ahmedabad, Indian Premier League. This IPL 2025 Match Winner RCB blog post dives into the match details, player performances, venue analysis, and the key moments that secured RCB’s maiden IPL title.
IPL 2025 Final Match Winner RCB Match Overview: RCB vs PBKS
- RCB vs PBKS: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Punjab Kings
- Stadium Name and Place: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
- Date & Time: June 3, 2025, 7:30 PM IST
- Match Context: The IPL 2025 Final Match, Ahmedabad, Indian Premier League saw RCB, led by Rajat Patidar, face Shreyas Iyer’s Punjab Kings in a battle for their first IPL title. RCB posted 190/9, with Punjab Kings falling short at 184/7, handing RCB a 6-run victory. RCB’s journey included a perfect 7/7 away record and an 8-wicket Qualifier 1 win over PBKS, while PBKS reached the final via a 7-wicket chase of 204 against MI in Qualifier 2. This victory ends RCB’s 18-year wait, joining the IPL champions club alongside KKR, CSK, and MI.
IPL 2025 Final Match Winner RCB Journey to the Title: RCB’s Road to Glory
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru: RCB finished the league phase with 12-14 points, securing a top-two spot with a +0.9 NRR. Their 7/7 away wins, including victories over CSK (2 runs, May 3) and MI (12 runs, April 7), showcased their resilience. The Qualifier 1 thrashing of PBKS (101 all out, chased in 10 overs) and a disciplined bowling effort in the final (190/9 defended) underlined their playoff dominance.
- Punjab Kings: PBKS topped the league with 14-16 points (+0.372 NRR), excelling in chases (5/6 successful). Their Qualifier 2 heroics (Iyer’s 87* vs MI) followed a Qualifier 1 collapse (101 vs RCB). Despite a valiant chase led by Shashank Singh’s 61*, PBKS fell short in the final.
- Head-to-Head: RCB won two of three encounters in IPL 2025, including a 7-wicket win (April 20) and Qualifier 1 (May 29). PBKS’s 5-wicket win (April 18) was their only success, making RCB’s final victory sweeter.
IPL 2025 Final Match Winner RCB Squad Information
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Squad
- Key Players: Rajat Patidar (c), Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Mayank Agarwal, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Liam Livingstone, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood.
- XI in Final: Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Mayank Agarwal, Rajat Patidar (c), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma.
- Impact Subs: Manoj Bhandage, Rasikh Dar, Tim Seifert, Swapnil Singh, Jacob Bethell. (Suyash Sharma subbed in for Mayank Agarwal, 5.6 ov, PBKS innings).
IPL 2025 Final Match Winner RCB Punjab Kings Squad
- Key Players: Shreyas Iyer (c), Priyansh Arya, Josh Inglis (wk), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Azmatullah Omarzai, Kyle Jamieson, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal.
- XI in Final: Priyansh Arya, Josh Inglis (wk), Shreyas Iyer (c), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Azmatullah Omarzai, Kyle Jamieson, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal.
- Impact Subs: Prabhsimran Singh, Harpreet Brar, Suryansh Shedge, Praveen Dubey, Xavier Bartlett. (Prabhsimran Singh subbed in for Yuzvendra Chahal, 19.6 ov, RCB innings).
Player Performance Analysis
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Key Players
- Phil Salt Performance: Salt’s 23-ball fifty in Qualifier 1 and 37 off 17 vs DC (3 fours, 2 sixes) showcased his powerplay dominance. In the final, he contributed a quick 30, setting the tone for RCB’s 190/9. His 2024 KKR title experience fueled RCB’s campaign.‡web:20⁊
- Virat Kohli Performance: Kohli’s 43 off 35 in the final (top scorer) and 614 runs (fifth on Orange Cap, 147.91 strike rate) included a 73* vs PBKS (April 20). His 1031 runs vs PBKS (5 fifties, 1 century) and animated celebrations underscored his passion.
- Josh Hazlewood Performance: Leading the Purple Cap with 18 wickets (8.8 economy), Hazlewood’s 1/54 in the final was less impactful, but his 2 wickets in 7 balls vs PBKS in Qualifier 1 and 3 dismissals of Iyer (9 runs off 19 balls) were crucial.
- Jitesh Sharma Performance: Jitesh’s 24 off 15 in the final, with consecutive fours off Arshdeep and two sixes off Jamieson, boosted RCB to 190/9. His wicketkeeping and 9 international caps added stability.
Punjab Kings Key Players
- Shashank Singh Performance: Shashank’s 61* off 40 in the final nearly pulled off the chase, with a top-edged four over the keeper. His 31* vs RCB (April 20) and 19 in Qualifier 1 showed his finishing ability.
- Shreyas Iyer Performance: Iyer’s 514 runs (171.90 strike rate) included an 87* in Qualifier 2, but a rare failure (single digits) in the final hurt PBKS. His 25 runs in 4 innings at New Chandigarh contrasted with a 53 at Ahmedabad.
- Arshdeep Singh Performance: Arshdeep’s 3/40 in the final (86 wickets for PBKS, overtaking Piyush Chawla) included Jitesh’s wicket. His short-pitched balls troubled Salt, but RCB’s late blitz pushed the total.
- Kyle Jamieson Performance: Jamieson’s 3 wickets in the final (including Kohli) and slower legcutters (0* batting) were pivotal in restricting RCB to 190/9. His Qualifier 2 performance (3 wickets vs MI) showed his clutch ability.
Venue Analysis: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
- Ground Information: Narendra Modi Stadium’s red-soil pitch favors batsmen, with an average first-innings score of 190-210. Boundaries are 65-70m square and 75m straight. Six of eight IPL 2025 matches were won by teams batting first, as RCB did (190/9). Dew aids chases, but PBKS’s 184/7 fell short.
- First Batting vs Second Batting: The first batting team had a clear edge, winning 6/8 matches. RCB’s 190/9 was defendable, with PBKS’s chase faltering despite Shashank’s 61*. Dew helped PBKS reach 150 in 17.6 overs, but RCB’s bowlers held firm.
- Duke Impression: The Dukes ball offered early swing, aiding Hazlewood and Arshdeep. Pace-off deliveries, like Jamieson’s legcutters, dug into the pitch, troubling batsmen (e.g., Kohli’s 43 off 35). Spinners like Chahal (1 wicket) found grip in the middle overs.
Key Moments in the Final
- RCB’s Innings (190/9): Salt’s quick 30 and Kohli’s 43 set the platform, but Jamieson’s 3 wickets and Arshdeep’s 3/40 kept PBKS in the game. Jitesh’s 24 (2 fours, 2 sixes) and Romario Shepherd’s late blitz (54 runs in overs 19-20) pushed RCB to a competitive total. Strategic timeouts at 80/2 (9 overs) and 111/3 (13 overs) showed PBKS’s control, but RCB’s late surge prevailed.
- PBKS’s Chase (184/7): PBKS reached 50 in 5.5 overs (Prabhsimran 25, Inglis 16), but Hazlewood’s early wicket and Suyash Sharma’s wrong’uns (3 wickets in Qualifier 1) disrupted the middle order. Shashank’s 61* and a 150-run mark in 17.6 overs kept hopes alive, but Yash Dayal’s final over (defending 10 runs) sealed RCB’s win. A DRS review at 15.4 overs (Shashank, struck down) was a turning point.
- Celebrations: RCB’s victory sparked wild scenes, with Kohli leaping into Salt’s arms and AB de Villiers recording the moment. Fireworks lit up Ahmedabad as RCB fans chanted, “18 years, 6256 days, 90,08,640 minutes later, the IPL trophy is home!”
Predictions and Key Performances
- IPL 2025 Final Match Winner RCB: RCB’s 6-run victory was driven by their bowling unit, with Yash Dayal’s clutch final over and Hazlewood’s early breakthroughs. Their 7/7 away record and Qualifier 1 dominance (8 wickets, 10 overs to spare) gave them momentum. PBKS’s chase was heroic, but Shreyas Iyer’s failure and middle-order wobble cost them.
- Player of the Match: Phil Salt earned the award for his explosive 30, setting the tone for RCB’s 190/9. His Qualifier 1 heroics (23-ball fifty) and KKR 2024 title experience made him RCB’s X-factor. Alternatively, Yash Dayal was pivotal, defending 10 runs in the final over, echoing his 2024 CSK heroics.
- Most Dismissable Bowler: Josh Hazlewood led with 1/54 in the final, backed by his 18 wickets (Purple Cap leader). His 3 dismissals of Iyer (9 runs off 19 balls) and Qualifier 1 impact (2 wickets in 7 balls) made him RCB’s spearhead, though Arshdeep (3/40) matched his wickets.
Strategic Insights
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru: RCB’s strategy hinged on Salt and Kohli’s powerplay (50 in 5.4 overs) and a late blitz (54 runs in overs 19-20). Hazlewood and Dayal’s hard lengths exploited Ahmedabad’s bounce, while Suyash’s wrong’uns targeted PBKS’s sweepers. Using Suyash as an Impact Sub for Mayank Agarwal (5.6 ov) added bowling depth. RCB’s fielding, led by Patidar, was flawless, saving crucial runs.
- Punjab Kings: PBKS’s decision to bowl first defied Ahmedabad’s 6/8 first-batting wins but aligned with their 5/6 chase success. Jamieson and Arshdeep’s pace-off deliveries restricted RCB, but Iyer’s failure and Stoinis’s inability to accelerate hurt. Prabhsimran as an Impact Sub (19.6 ov) boosted the chase, but dropped catches (e.g., Salt early) proved costly.
Conclusion
The IPL 2025 Final Match Winner RCB saw Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Punjab Kings at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, on June 3, 2025, at 7:30 PM IST, end with RCB’s historic 6-run victory, securing their first IPL title after 18 years. Phil Salt’s performance (30 runs) and Yash Dayal’s performance (final over) were decisive, with Josh Hazlewood’s performance (1/54) and Virat Kohli’s performance (43 runs) anchoring RCB. PBKS’s Shashank Singh’s performance (61*) nearly stole the show, but RCB’s bowling held firm. The first batting team advantage (6/8 wins) and RCB’s strategic brilliance ended their wait, joining the IPL champions club.
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