After 18 years of heartbreak, false dawns, and perennial hope, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have finally scripted their redemption story in the most poetic fashion possible. From the infamous collapse in the inaugural match in 2008 against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to three lost IPL finals and a Champions League T20 final heartbreak, RCB’s journey has been a rollercoaster of high expectations and agonising collapses. However, on June 3, 2025, at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the franchise buried the ghosts of the past, ending a 2,655-day wait and a staggering 286-match drought across IPL and CLT20 competitions to lift their maiden IPL title.
This wasn’t just a win, it was a culmination of nearly two decades of resilience, fan loyalty, and moments that tested the mettle of legends. The night belonged to every RCB loyalist, but more importantly, it belonged to Virat Kohli, the talisman who has been the face, heart, and soul of the franchise since its inception.
A Long-Awaited Crown for the King – Virat Kohli
It’s almost poetic justice that RCB’s triumph comes with Virat Kohli still donning the red and gold. For 18 years, he remained their unwavering pillar, a beacon of passion and aggression, a captain who came close but was always denied the prize. Kohli may not have been captain anymore, but this trophy will perhaps matter more than any he might’ve lifted as skipper. He is now the only player to have represented a single franchise from the very start of the IPL and finally tasted championship glory.
Kohli’s record-breaking journey continued as he smashed his 771st IPL four, surpassing Shikhar Dhawan’s tally of 768, reinforcing his unmatched legacy as a run-machine. Though not the top scorer in the final, his presence, anchoring and mentoring from within were invaluable to the younger generation.
Rajat Patidar: From Fringe Player to Title-Winning Captain
If Kohli represented RCB’s past and present, Rajat Patidar embodied their future. Appointed captain in a surprise mid-season switch, Patidar’s calm leadership and sharp cricketing mind turned RCB from contenders into champions. The fact that he had played just four international matches before this IPL season and still went on to lift the trophy puts him in elite company.
Only three other players have won the IPL in their debut season as captain: Shane Warne (2008), Rohit Sharma (2013) and Hardik Pandya (2022) and Patidar now joins that rare league.
Krunal Pandya: The Final’s Undisputed Specialist
Though RCB clinched the title, Krunal Pandya, representing the opposition, carved a unique slice of history. He became the first player to win the Player-of-the-Match award twice in IPL finals, previously claiming it in the 2017 final for Mumbai Indians (MI) against Rising Pune Supergiants. With this match, his record in IPL finals now stands at a perfect 4-0, having also lifted the trophy with MI in 2017, 2019, and 2020.
Only Rohit Sharma has more wins in IPL finals, but Krunal’s consistency on the big stage is unquestionable, marking him as one of the format’s most underrated yet valuable assets.
A Collective Effort: RCB’s All-Round Show
This wasn’t a one-man or even a two-man show. The title was the result of a phenomenal team performance. A rare stat underlined this: 10 different RCB players either scored 20 or more runs or took at least one wicket in the final.
Only Phil Salt (16 runs and a catch) and Suyash Sharma (2 overs without a wicket as an Impact Player) didn’t join this statistical elite. The rest stepped up, be it with clutch wickets, steady cameos, or impactful fielding. This balance is what RCB lacked in previous years, often relying on individual brilliance to paper over systemic issues.
The only precedent for such a stat comes from Delhi’s performance in the 2017-18 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final, where 10 players contributed significantly with bat or ball.
End of a Title-less Era: Changing the Narrative
RCB’s triumph means they are now the 8th franchise to win the IPL. The only two original franchises from 2008 still without a title are Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Delhi Capitals (DC). In fact, with 274 matches, DC now holds the unwanted record for playing the most men’s T20 games without a title, a record previously held by RCB.
Legacy Rewritten
More than just a win, this moment shifts the narrative around RCB. No longer will they be the team of memes or the “underachievers” of the IPL. No longer will “Ee Sala Cup Namde” be a hopeful cry; it is now a fulfilled prophecy.
The victory also rekindles belief in long-term sporting loyalty and effort. For fans who stood by during the lows of 2009, 2016, and 2022, this was a cathartic release.
And for Virat Kohli, perhaps the most emotional image of the night was not lifting the trophy, but sitting quietly on the field, eyes moist, absorbing the magnitude of what he had just accomplished. For him, for RCB, and for every fan who never gave up, June 3, 2025, will remain a date etched in cricketing folklore.
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