Kohli and RCB win maiden IPL title, break 18-year jinx

For a brief moment, it seemed like history might repeat itself!

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After Virat Kohli’s measured 35-ball 43 and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) were restricted to 190/9 by a disciplined Punjab Kings (PBKS) attack in the IPL 2025 final, another heartbreak appeared imminent for the veteran batter and his team.

Having suffered defeat in three previous finals across his 18-season IPL career, Kohli may have feared that the elusive title would once again slip away. But this time, fate had a different plan.

RCB's bowlers, led by Krunal Pandya’s sensational 2/17 from four overs, produced a spirited comeback to restrict Punjab Kings to 184/7 and seal a dramatic six-run victory at the Narendra Modi Stadium, finally ending their long-standing title drought.

More than 91,000 fans packed into the 132,000-capacity stadium in Ahmedabad, a sea of Bengaluru’s red and Kohli's jersey number 18 dominating the stands as chants of “Kohli, Kohli” rang out.

While Shashank Singh nearly pulled off a miracle with a fighting 30-ball 61* — including three sixes and a four off the final over — RCB held their nerve to lift their maiden IPL trophy, adding it to their Women’s Premier League (WPL) crown from earlier in the season.