It took a staggering 6255 days since their inaugural IPL outing on April 18, 2008, against Kolkata Knight Riders, but the wait is finally over. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), the franchise that once symbolized heartbreak and near-misses, has risen to the top at long last. After enduring 286 matches across the Indian Premier League and the Champions League T20, the elusive title is now theirs.
In a moment of individual brilliance, Krunal Pandya etched his name into the record books by becoming the first player to be adjudged Player of the Match twice in IPL finals. His previous award came in 2017, when he played a pivotal role in helping Mumbai Indians overcome Rising Pune Supergiants in a tight finale.
Adding to the legacy, Rajat Patidar now joins the elite group of players who have guided their team to an IPL crown in their very first season as captain. He walks alongside names like Shane Warne, who led Rajasthan Royals to the title in the inaugural season of 2008, Rohit Sharma, who took over the reins mid-season in 2013 and delivered glory to Mumbai Indians, and Hardik Pandya, who orchestrated Gujarat Titans’ dream debut in 2022.
The final showdown was a high-octane clash as RCB edged past Punjab Kings by 6 runs in a nerve-wracking contest. After being put into bat, RCB were limited to 190 for 9, thanks to the efforts of Arshdeep Singh (3 for 40) and Kyle Jamieson (3 for 48). Virat Kohli, as ever, held the innings together with a gritty 43 off 35, but the team struggled for fluency, losing wickets at regular intervals.
Punjab looked to chase down the total, but Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2 for 38) and the ever-clutch Krunal Pandya (2 for 17) weaved magic with the ball. Punjab were ultimately restricted to 184 for 7 in their allotted 20 overs, falling agonizingly short of the target.
RCB’s road to the final was a tale of resilience and resurgence. They played 14 matches, winning 9, losing 4, and seeing one match abandoned due to rain. Their consistent performances earned them the second spot on the points table. In the first Qualifier against Punjab, they stormed into the final with an emphatic win—chasing the target with 10 overs and 8 wickets to spare.
This wasn’t just a victory. It was the closing of an 18-year-old wound. It was a roar echoing across stadiums and timelines. For RCB fans around the world, the dream has finally come true.
The celebrations spilled onto social media platforms “X” (formerly known as Twitter) and “Instagram”, where players and fans expressed their uncontainable joy. Among them was Shreyanka Patil, a key figure in RCB’s Women’s Premier League triumph in 2024, who shared in the jubilation of the franchise’s long-awaited double delight.
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