Royal Challengers end long wait for maiden title
Royal Challengers Bengaluru is no longer the bridesmaid. From being a three-time runner-up, RCB finally scaled the peak to lay claim on the IPL trophy.
Seventeen editions of yearning and heartbreak turned into unadulterated joy for the massive fanbase as RCB shut out Punjab Kings by six runs in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium here on Tuesday.
Virat Kohli, the owner of a dazzling array of titles and milestones, added the one highlight missing in the list.
Rajat Patidar, in his first season as RCB captain, achieved what many of his exalted predecessors — Kohli, Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid, to name a few — could not attain.
IPL 2025: RCB brings trophy home after 18 years, beats PBKS in finals
In front of a packed house, filled predominantly by RCB supporters, the franchise choked a nervy PBKS. RCB seemed to have dropped the ball by making 190 for nine, but more than made up for it with an excellent bowling performance.
Victory celebrations started early, when the in-form PBKS skipper Shreyas Iyer nicked an innocuous ball outside off stump from medium-pacer Romario Shepherd.
Shreyas, the mastermind behind PBKS' successful chase against Mumbai Indians in the Qualifier 2, left the field for one. And with him went PBKS' own hopes of winning a maiden IPL title.
Shepherd may have picked up the big wicket of Shreyas, but it was Krunal Pandya who set it up. Coming into the attack in the seventh over, the left-arm spinner tied the batters in knots by keeping an exceptional length.
The 34-year-old conceded just 17 runs in his four overs, to go with the wickets of Prabhsimran Singh and Josh Inglis.
Shashank Singh (61 n.o., 30b, 3x4, 6x6) hung around in an attempt to spoil the RCB party, to no avail.
Shreyas called it right at the toss, and like he did against MI, chose to field first. Spells of rain a few hours before the start of the outing made the pitch wet, which led to the RCB batters taking a circumspect approach.
Save for a cameo from Phil Salt, the RCB top order stayed cautious.
Kohli (43, 35b, 3x4) took up the anchor role, keeping the ball along the ground and running quick singles and twos. This did increase the pressure on his partners, who were forced to adopt aggressive tactics.
With the run rate dropping below nine an over, RCB needed Jitesh Sharma to go all guns blazing. Jitesh was up for it with a 10-ball 24.
PBKS would have felt it did well to restrict RCB to below 200, but there would be no stopping RCB from making history.
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