RCB players lifting IPL 2025 trophy with fireworks and crowd celebrations in the background
By Hritik Pandey | Ahmedabad | June 3, 2025
It took 18 years. But last night, Royal Challengers Bengaluru finally did it.
After countless near misses, heartbreaks, and memes, RCB lifted their first-ever IPL trophy, defeating Punjab Kings by 6 runs in a nerve-wracking final at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
Fans cried. Players hugged. Flags waved in the air. This wasn’t just a cricket match — it was a dream, finally alive.
The Match That Broke the Curse
Batting first, RCB posted 190 for 9. It wasn’t the perfect start — they lost early wickets — but key knocks from:
Virat Kohli (43 off 35)
Rajat Patidar (26 off 16) kept the scoreboard ticking.
PBKS came charging back, with Shashank Singh’s fiery 61 from 30 balls, but RCB’s death bowling, especially from Hazlewood and Krunal Pandya, held firm.
“We stayed calm. We stayed together,” said Faf du Plessis. “We deserved this.”
What the Players Said
Virat Kohli (tearfully):
“Eighteen years… you wait and you hope. I’ve played this game with my soul, for this team. And tonight, it paid off.”
Faf du Plessis:
“No one believed more than this group. This is for our fans, who never gave up.”
From Meme to Moment
For years, the phrase “Ee Sala Cup Namde” was a joke — a chant filled with pain.
But not anymore.
As the final wicket fell, Bengaluru exploded in celebration. People ran into the streets. Tears rolled. Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers, and former RCB stars were seen laughing, dancing, reliving what they never got to finish.
“It’s finally real,” said a young fan outside Chinnaswamy Stadium. “We’re not dreaming, right?”
Why It Matters
This was more than a cricket win.
It was about loyalty, patience, and belief. About a team that carried the burden of millions — and finally dropped it in triumph.
RCB are no longer the ‘almost’ team. They’re champions. At last.
