The wait is finally over. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have won their first-ever Indian Premier League (IPL) title, defeating Punjab Kings in the IPL 2025 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

In a night packed with drama and emotion, RCB held their nerve to clinch the trophy, winning by 6 runs — a moment that will go down in franchise history.

As the final wicket fell / final ball was bowled, the stadium erupted. Cameras immediately captured an emotional Virat Kohli, who has been the face of the franchise for over a decade. Kohli, visibly teary-eyed, hugged his teammates as the crowd chanted his name.

RCB had set a target of 191 after posting 190/9 in their 20 overs, with key contributions from Kohli himself, Rajat Patidar, and others. Their bowlers then turned up on the big stage — with Krunal Pandya’s spell (4-0-17-2), Josh Hazlewood’s crucial breakthroughs, and tight overs from Romario Shepherd and Bhuvneshwar Kumar ensuring Punjab Kings never quite found momentum in the chase.

As the Punjab innings wound down, chants of “RCB, RCB” grew louder across the ground, with fans sensing that the elusive title was finally within reach.

For Virat Kohli, this triumph is particularly special — having taken RCB to three previous finals without success, this victory ends a long-standing narrative around the team’s inability to cross the finish line. Kohli was seen raising the trophy aloft, sharing the moment with long-time RCB supporters and teammates.

With this win, RCB’s name will finally be etched onto the IPL champions list — a moment the Bengaluru faithful and their global fanbase had waited 17 seasons to witness.