Did Krunal Pandya’s Magnificent Performance Lead RCB and Kohli to End 18-Year Title Drought?

Ahmedabad, June 3 (NationPress) For a fleeting moment, it appeared that history might repeat itself! After Virat Kohli scored a composed 43 runs off 35 balls, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) struggled to reach 190/9 against a disciplined attack from Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the IPL 2025 final, raising the specter of yet another heartbreak for the veteran player and his team.

Having faced defeat in three previous finals during his 18-season IPL journey, Kohli must have braced himself for the possibility of the elusive title evading him yet again. However, this time, destiny had a different script.

RCB's bowlers, spearheaded by Krunal Pandya's outstanding figures of 2/17 in four overs, mounted a spirited comeback, limiting Punjab Kings to 184/7 and clinching a thrilling six-run victory at the Narendra Modi Stadium. This win finally put an end to their long-standing title drought.

Despite Shashank Singh's valiant effort with a remarkable 61 not out off 30 balls — featuring three sixes and a four in the final over — RCB maintained their composure to secure their first-ever IPL trophy, adding it to their Women's Premier League (WPL) title from earlier in the season.

Once labeled as underachievers, RCB put those doubts to rest with a comprehensive campaign in 2025, finishing second in the league stage and earning a direct entry to the final after defeating PBKS in Qualifier 1.

On the night of the final, Krunal Pandya emerged as the star, taking the crucial wickets of Prabhsimran Singh and Josh Inglis, which significantly hindered Punjab's chase. Bhuvneshwar Kumar contributed with 2/38, while Romario Shepherd dismissed PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer — who had performed brilliantly in the Eliminator with an unbeaten 87 — for just 1 run, leaving Punjab in a precarious position at 98/4.

Iyer’s dismissal, edging behind off Shepherd, occurred just after Krunal had claimed Prabhsimran and Inglis, both vital breakthroughs as PBKS struggled to keep pace with the required run rate on a sluggish pitch.

Though Shashank Singh's late surge was commendable, Punjab couldn't bounce back from the cluster of wickets lost between overs 10 and 15, ultimately falling short in their second IPL final.

RCB Innings: Grit Over Glamour

Earlier, sent in to bat, RCB had a modest beginning. Phil Salt struck 13 runs in the first over from Arshdeep Singh but was dismissed by Kyle Jamieson in the next over. Jamieson bowled effectively, finishing with figures of 3/48, while Arshdeep was the standout bowler with 3/40, including two wickets in the final over.

Kohli and Mayank Agarwal steadied the innings, guiding RCB to 55/1 by the end of the Powerplay. However, Agarwal fell shortly after for 24 runs (18 balls), with Yuzvendra Chahal striking early in his spell.

Captain Rajat Patidar (26 runs off 16 balls) looked fluent, hitting a couple of sixes off Chahal and Jamieson, but was dismissed lbw to a cleverly disguised slower ball from the Kiwi bowler. Kohli anchored the innings throughout the middle overs, finding boundaries with innovative ramps and flicks, but fell in the 15th over for 43 (35), mis-timing a short ball from Azmatullah Omarzai.

Jitesh Sharma injected urgency with a quickfire 24 off 10 balls, hitting three sixes in rapid succession, including a brilliant Dilscoop and a pulled six off Jamieson. His fireworks, along with a cameo from Romario Shepherd (17 runs off 9 balls), elevated RCB to a competitive total.

Despite Arshdeep’s heroics in the final over, where he dismissed Pandya and Bhuvneshwar while conceding just three runs, RCB’s 190/9 proved to be just sufficient.

Kohli’s Emotional Milestone

For Virat Kohli, this victory represented far more than a trophy — it was the culmination of 18 years filled with loyalty, perseverance, and passion for a franchise that had often stumbled at the final hurdle.

His emotional collapse to the ground after the last ball, his post-match embrace with AB de Villiers, and his heartfelt remarks during interviews encapsulated the significance of the moment — both personally and historically.

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Brief Scores:

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: 190/9 in 20 overs (Virat Kohli 43, Rajat Patidar 26, Jitesh Sharma 24; Arshdeep Singh 3/40, Kyle Jamieson 3/48)

Punjab Kings: 184/7 in 20 overs (Shashank Singh 61*; Krunal Pandya 2/17, Bhuvneshwar Kumar 2/38)

Result: RCB won by 6 runs.