Vijay Mallya congratulates RCB On IPL 2025 Victory

Royal Challengers Bengaluru's former owner Vijay Mallya expressed his joy on RCB's IPL victory with a social media post. In his post on X, Vijay Mallya said: "RCB are IPL Champions finally after 18 years. Superb campaign right through the 2025 tournament. A well-balanced team Playing Bold with outstanding coaching and support staff. Many congratulations! Ee sala cup namde!!" His post resonated with fans, especially with the use of the popular Kannada phrase "Ee sala cup namde," meaning "This year, the cup is ours."

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) finally claimed their first Indian Premier League (IPL) title after 18 years of anticipation. They secured a thrilling six-run victory over Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Narendra Modi Stadium on June 3, 2025. This win marked a significant moment for RCB, who had previously reached the finals in 2009, 2011, and 2016 but never clinched the trophy.

RCB's Bowling Brilliance

The final match was a nail-biter as RCB defended a target of 191 runs. Krunal Pandya delivered an impressive spell of 2/17, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar took 2/38. Yash Dayal and Josh Hazlewood also contributed by taking crucial wickets. Despite Shashank Singh's late fireworks for PBKS, scoring an unbeaten 61 off just 30 balls, they fell short by six runs.

RCB's batting lineup set up a competitive score of 190/9 after being put in to bat first. Virat Kohli led from the front with a composed innings of 43 runs off 35 balls. Jitesh Sharma provided a late boost with a quickfire 24 off just ten deliveries, including consecutive sixes against Kyle Jamieson.

Punjab's Chase Stumbles

PBKS began their chase aggressively but lost momentum due to regular wickets falling at crucial moments. Phil Salt's fielding brilliance sent Priyansh Arya back early, and Krunal Pandya dismissed Prabhsimran Singh soon after. Shreyas Iyer and Josh Inglis couldn't capitalise on their starts, while Nehal Wadhera and Marcus Stoinis struggled to build partnerships.

Despite PBKS' strong start in pursuit of RCB's total, disciplined bowling from Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar ensured they couldn't maintain the required run rate. The pressure mounted as PBKS kept losing wickets at regular intervals.

A Historic Night for RCB

The victory was particularly emotional for Virat Kohli, who has been a cornerstone of RCB since its inception in 2008. After three previous final losses and many seasons without silverware, this triumph was a long-awaited redemption for both him and the franchise.

For PBKS, reaching their first final in over a decade under captain Shreyas Iyer and coach Ricky Ponting was an achievement despite the loss. Their campaign showcased resilience and determination throughout the tournament.