At the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Royal Challengers Bengaluru at last secured their maiden IPL trophy after defeating Punjab Kings by six runs on June 3, 2025. Having played for RCB since 2008, Virat Kohli celebrated this much awaited triumph following 18 years of effort. This victory made history and brought joy to fans. After many ups and downs over the years, RCB’s hard work finally paid off with a thrilling win in the final.
The Wait Ends in Tears
The stadium exploded in happiness as the last ball was thrown. Renowned for his tenacity and will, Virat Kohli dropped to his knees. His tears came without control. As cameras caught the emotional moment—full of pleasure, relief, and incredulity—his colleagues hurried over to hug him.
In cricket, Kohli has practically accomplished everything. Though Royal Challengers Bangalore had great stars like AB de Villiers, Chris Gayle, and Glenn Maxwell over the years, the IPL championship always slid away. But in the 2025 season things changed.
Kohli stated in a moving interview with Star Sports following the game, “This victory means everything to us and the supporters. There have been eighteen long years. I gave this team my youth, my best years, and all my experience. Every season, I tried my hardest to win. Now, to finally live this moment—it feels unreal. I never thought this day would come.”
RCB Starts Strong with a Big Score
RCB started the IPL 2025 final on a high note. With regular captain Faf du Plessis unavailable, Rajat Patidar led the team. The batters stepped up and scored a solid total of 190 runs. Virat Kohli played an important role at the top, making 43 runs from 35 balls and holding the innings together. Then, in the middle overs, England’s Phil Salt and Liam Livingstone added quick runs with powerful shots. Their aggressive batting gave RCB strong momentum before the second innings began.
RCB Bowlers Finish the Job
Punjab Kings began their chase under pressure and struggled to build any solid partnerships. They kept losing wickets at key moments. RCB’s bowlers kept sharpness and control right from the opening delivery. With his outstanding effort and 2 wickets for just 17 runs in his 4 overs, Spinner Krunal Pandya led the way. His work brought him the Player of the Match trophy. Additionally tight with clever, disciplined bowling were Mohammed Siraj and Karn Sharma.
Punjab needed 33 runs to win as the game descended on the last over. Calm and bowling a tight over, Josh Hazlewood only dropped 4 runs. Punjab had no chance left when 29 runs from the last four balls were needed. The crowd erupted with joy as RCB finally won their first IPL trophy, ending an 18-year wait and making history.
The Internet Erupts
Social media broke in delight the instant RCB won. Fans from all around the globe, Bollywood celebs, and cricket players expressed their love and admiration of Virat Kohli. Popular hashtags such #RCBChampions, #KohliEraComplete, #KingKohli, #RCBFinally, #18YearsOfHope, and #ViratGetsHisTrophy rapidly started to become popular across platforms.
Bengaluru’s supporters flocked to the streets to celebrate meanwhile. Late into the evening, they cheered Kohli’s name with delight by waving RCB flags, dancing to drum beats, and yelling. This triumph meant more than just a title; it was a potent emotional, committed, and belief-based moment realised after eighteen long years.
Personal Reflections
After retiring from Test cricket earlier this year and from T20 Internationals after the 2024 T20 World Cup, Virat Kohli shared how much this IPL title means to him. He said, “This win is one of the biggest moments of my career. I’ve given everything to this team for the past 18 years. I stayed loyal through the ups and downs. At times, I thought about walking away, but I never did. I stood by the team, and they stood by me. I always dreamed of winning the IPL with RCB.”
Kohli also thanked his wife, Anushka Sharma, for her constant support. He said, “She has been with me through every emotional high and low. She always stood by me. This win belongs to her just as much as it does to me.”
A Legacy Cemented
Virat Kohli’s loyalty to RCB, even through tough times and close losses, shows the strength of his character. Business leader Anand Mahindra praised Kohli’s dedication by quoting Rabindranath Tagore: “Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark.” He then added, “For 18 years, Virat gave everything to a team that had never won the title. He kept believing, waiting for that dawn. And now, finally, the stars have answered his faith.”
With this win, Kohli’s incredible career now includes an IPL trophy—joining his past achievements like the 2011 ODI World Cup, the 2013 and 2025 Champions Trophies, and the 2024 T20 World Cup.
“I’ve played this game with all my heart. Tonight, the game was given back to me,” Kohli said at the end of the night.
And with that, a beautiful story came to an end—not with a raised bat, but with tears, smiles, and finally holding the long-awaited trophy.
Final Words
After 18 years of hard work and challenges, Virat Kohli and RCB won their first IPL title. This big win ended a long journey and showed their loyalty, passion, and teamwork. Kohli fulfilled his dream and added an important moment to his amazing career.
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