The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) overcame their 18-year title drought by winning their first Indian Premier League (IPL) trophy, defeating Punjab Kings (PBKS) by six runs in an exciting IPL 2025 Final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
The emotional high point of the night came when RCB icon Virat Kohli was spotted in tears following the victory. He dashed towards his wife, actress Anushka Sharma, and hugged her in a wonderful moment. Anushka, a devoted fan since the 2014 IPL season, stood behind Kohli through all of the highs and lows, adding to the significance of the moment.
RCB scored 190 runs in the opening innings, with Kohli providing a vital 43. PBKS bowlers Arshdeep Singh and Kyle Jamieson each took three wickets. In response, PBKS fought valiantly but fell short by six runs, despite Shashank Singh’s 61-run knock off 30 balls.
Watch the video of Virat Kohli-Anushka Sharma sharing hug here
Emotional Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma crying together hugging each other 😭❤️ pic.twitter.com/HVwMFYrR9c
— RIYA (@Riyaaa1808) June 3, 2025
RCB’s bowlers kept their cool under pressure. Krunal Pandya and Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled key periods, keeping their team ahead in the final seconds.
Kohli was in fantastic form throughout the competition, amassing 657 runs in 15 matches at an average of 54.75, including eight half-centuries that helped RCB win. His consistency and leadership qualities were critical for the Bengaluru-based firm.
RCB finished second on the IPL 2025 points table with 19 points, ensuring a spot in Qualifier 1 versus PBKS at Mullanpur. They dominated the game with an amazing bowling performance, earning a direct spot in the final. PBKS, on the other hand, rebounded by upsetting five-time winners Mumbai Indians (MI) in Qualifier 2 and advancing to the final.
Under Rajat Patidar’s leadership, RCB was able to achieve what they had failed to do in previous seasons: win the title. The victory is a watershed point in the franchise’s history.
