And now, a moment which no RCB fan will never ever forget. The IPL trophy is handed over to the Royal Challengers Bengaluru and pop goes the confetti! The Women did it in the WPL in 2024 and the Men have followed suit in 2025. This win will be talked about for ages, because patience has finally borne fruit. They have got a team which has been pretty consistent in all departments not only this year, but for the last 3-4 years now and with the first title under the belt, maybe, it is now time to give the likes of Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians a run for their money, in terms of consistency. Punjab Kings have a bitter pill to swallow, but you never lose - you either win or you learn. They will take inspiration from RCB and come back stronger and more determined in 2026, to try and cross that one final step. And on that note, we end our coverage of the 2025 Indian Premier League as well. An extended season, but we enjoyed it nevertheless. We thank you for your company and hope that you enjoyed as well. IPL is done but cricket is not. Because international cricket is already ready to open up its wings with England and West Indies involved in a tussle for now, in the UK. But later in June, the main game starts with the World Test Championship final between South Africa and Australia and later, which every Indian is eager to see - the future of Indian cricket as India's tour of England will start off. You can catch all the action right here, by just switching the tabs. Until next time then, ADIOS! TAKE CARE!

The victorious captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, RAJAT PATIDAR, happily walks up the dias for the winning chat. Starts by saying that it is very special for him, Virat Kohli and all the fans and they all deserve it. Mentions that after Qualifier 1, they felt like they can go on and win the title. Reckons that 190 was a good score on this ground as it was a bit slow and the way the RCB bowlers executed their plans, it was great to see. Adds that whenever he is under pressure, he looks for Krunal Pandya (KP) as he does well under pressure and also goes on to applaud the rest of the bowlers. On Virat Kohli, Patidar says that he learnt a lot from him and he and the fans deserve it so much and even the support staff helped them. Ends by bringing out the famous quote associated with RCB, 'Ee saala cup namdu,' which means that the cup is ours this year.

Time for the runners up, as Punjab Kings get their medallions. Skipper SHREYAS IYER is in for a chat. Starts by saying that he feels dejected and the way they chased wasn't immaculate, but the way they played throughout the season and how well the staff members and the owners supported them was amazing to see. Mentions that he thought 200 would have been a par score but the way Krunal Pandya bowled, it was brilliant. Adds that he is proud of every individual in this team and a lot of them are playing their first season and without the players and the support staff, they wouldn't have reached this far, but the job is half done and next year, they will gun for the trophy. Reckons that they had plenty of individuals putting their hands up and next year these same players will be experienced and do even better.

The umpires and the match referee now get their medals.

Mumbai Indians' SURYAKUMAR YADAV is named as the MOST VALUABLE PLAYER of IPL 2025. He ended second on the run-scorers' list, making 717 runs at an average of 65.18 and a strike rate of 167.91. He scored 5 50s but had 16 innings in succession where he scored more than 25.

Gujarat Titans' PRASIDH KRISHNA wins the Purple Cap, for topping the wicket charts. He ended the season with 25 scalps, at an economy of 8.27 and average of 19.52. He also took a 4-wicket haul this year.

Gujarat Titans' SAI SUDHARSAN wins the Orange Cap, for scoring 759 runs at an average of 54.21 and a strike rate of 156.17. In 15 innings, he scored 6 50s and a century.

For the second time in an IPL final, KRUNAL PANDYA gets the Player-Of-The-Match award. His bowling figures of 4-0-17-2 stifled PBKS and his experience was the trump card. His previous award was in 2017, when his 47 with the bat helped Mumbai Indians win the title that year. Krunal says that when RCB were batting, he had a discussion with the batters and they reckoned that the slower you bowled, it was better, but again, in this format it is a risk and he tried to create chances rather than just firing it in. Mentions that his biggest strength has been adjusting to the situation and he knows that he needs to be brave enough when required and is glad that he was able to get a couple of wickets. Reckons that it would have been a good batting surface if they bowled quicker but it wasn't easy against the slower ones. Adds that when he joined RCB, he told that he likes winning trophies and manifested it from the start and now he has 4 IPL trophies in a decade.

... THE PRESENTATION ...

Let's have a quiet word for Punjab Kings. Unfortunately, the world just looks at the trophies you have won. It was the same for RCB three times in the past. PBKS qualified for the playoffs and then the final for the first time after 2014 but it just seems like destiny is not yet keen to put their name up on the honours' board. But probably, a time for the Punjab management to think and contemplate - there is not much they did wrong. But sometimes, even your best is not good enough. One of the key issues with Punjab Kings' management is their lack of faith in their players, as they just let players go after every season. They are one franchise with the most number of captains - 28 - with almost every captain every new year. But this season, they went ahead and showed their trust in youngsters and they delivered. But just that in the final, RCB were the better team. But they have built a wonderful core and in Shreyas Iyer, have probably got a skipper for the future - almost like a Rohit Sharma. One just wishes that like their contemporaries RCB, Punjab are patient with their players and believe that one fine night, that IPL trophy will be theirs.

And now, the man of the hour, VIRAT KOHLI, is finally free for a chat. Kohli says that he has tried to win this trophy every season and gave it all he had, and it seemed like this day would never come. But adds that having finally won the IPL, the feeling is absolutely amazing. Further says that what AB de Villiers has done for RCB is massive and he wanted him to celebrate with the team on the podium. Also says that AB is absolutely one of those who have shaped this tournament. Mentions that he (Kohli) has stayed loyal to this team even though he had moments where he thought otherwise, but he stuck with RCB and the team stuck with him and it is just a surreal feeling. Adds that he is someone who wants to win these big tournaments and tonight he's gonna sleep like a baby. Virat further adds that he doesn't have much more time to play this game and he wants to enjoy every bit of it, by not being just an impact player but be on the field and give it his all. Goes on to thank the Almighty and the whole team and adds that it wouldn't have been possible without the effort of every single individual and this win goes out to the whole of Bengaluru. On Test cricket, Kohli says that this IPL win is one of his best nights ever and yet it is five levels below Test cricket. Ends by urging every young cricketer to take up Test cricket as in his opinion, if you do well in the longest format of the game, you get respect from everyone.

JITESH SHARMA and MAYANK AGARWAL are now having a chat with Harsha Bhogle. Jitesh says that he is so happy for Kohli and he can understand what it feels to be someone who has had to wait for 18 years for one trophy. Adds that it feels so much greater to play for someone like him. Mayank says that one should be grateful for life and how it can turn 360.

The mentor and batting coach of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, DINESH KARTHIK, now comes up to express his feelings and thoughts. He says that it is a franchise that has waited for so long and everyone deserves it, even the support staff. DK adds that they had a lot of belief from the start and it was great to see the boys standing up whenever required. Mentions that their batters felt it wasn't an easy track to bat on and gives credit to RCB's head coach, Andy Flower, who put them through a lot of drills and all of that improved the whole team.

PHIL SALT is up next. Says that it is an unbelievable feeling and he's over the moon to be a new father and win the IPL as well. Calls himself a stroke of luck for the team. Reckons that they are the best supported team wherever they go and even the likes of AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle are here. Gives a big thank you to the fans.

BHUVNESHWAR KUMAR is the first one down for a chat, along with JOSH HAZLEWOOD. Bhuvi says that they knew 180 would be a good score to defend and they got 190 and managed to execute their plans with the ball. Josh reckons that the score was a good one and everyone chipped in. Bhuvi chimes in on Krunal Pandya's performance and reckons he bowled amazingly and adds that they tried to keep the use of the slower ball under control. Hazlewood gives a word on Kohli and says that to slug it out for 18 long years is a huge thing and reckons he gets better playing in these situations.

Tough outing for Punjab Kings ​​​​and Shreyas Iyer. Two nights ago, the team was on the moon but come the final, the story got revised. Small margins in the game cost them big time. 23 runs in the 17th over by Kyle Jamieson. Then the drop of Romario Shepherd in the very next over. And then, 14 in the 19th over. Those 3 overs just took the momentum away from Punjab, as they were on course to restrict RCB under 180 perhaps. Arshdeep Singh and Kyle Jamieson picked up 3 wickets apiece but RCB showed their batting might once again, as without a single 50-run stand or even a single half century, finished just 10 shy of 200.

Josh Hazlewood was expected to be the key bowler for RCB in this final. Not because he is the revised name for Glenn McGrath but also because he is the redefinition of being metronomical. However, he went around the park in this game but it did not matter for much. It was Krunal Pandya who choked Punjab, not allowing them to score freely at all. His figures of 4-0-17-2 were more than instrumental in this win, to go with excellent bowling figures from Yash Dayal as well. Not to forget, the double-wicket over in the 17th by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, which nipped the game in the bud.

Coming to the chase, 191 did seem chaseable. In fact, Matthew Hayden went onto say that RCB were 30 runs below par. That was because there was dew expected and given the way PBKS gunned down a target of 204 just a couple of nights ago, on Sunday, or shall we say, in the wee hours of Monday, nearly everyone felt that it was going to be a repeat of Qualifier 2. The first 2 overs saw the Punjab openers tee off but then RCB came back towards the end of the Powerplay. And then, once the first wicket fell, Bengaluru just squeezed Punjab and no one could really fight back. Only Josh Inglis seemed to be in some sort of fluency while everyone else struggled. Shreyas Iyer endured another quick exit and once that happened, the writing was on the wall. Shashank Singh finished on an unbeaten 61 (30) but 22 of those came in the last 4 balls when the match was just a formality.

The camera now pans onto Rajat Patidar who is hugged by his wife as well. What a season for him. First season as IPL captain and he ends RCB's title drought! It was a template set at the auctions table, where RCB invested heavily in bowlers as they knew, they always had the batting throughout these years. They got some smart buys, in Phil Salt and Tim David but their biggest pick was Josh Hazlewood, who has ended the season with 22 wickets, their standout throughout the season. Not to mention, Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma put in excellent efforts while the ever reliable Bhuvneshwar Kumar lent his experience.

The RCB team is overjoyed, to say the least. The players are running everywhere and finally, Kohli manages a fist pump in the air. Throughout the match, he was pumped up but when that winning moment came, emotions took over. But now, he looks composed and the look on his face seems to indicate that at last, he is satisfied with the game that has returned him everything which he gave to the sport. AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle are there as well, the latter sporting a turban too, as he had played for both teams in the past. The crowd is filled with pure joy and Kohli's wife, Ms. Anushka Sharma too, has tears in her eyes. She understands how much this means to her husband and congratulates him with a hug. Even the usually emotionless Andy Flower, who can give Stephen Fleming a run for his money in terms of emotions, is beside himself with joy. That shows how much this means for everyone in the RCB camp. In the dugout, outside, everywhere.

It does happen. Every day just cannot be the same. They waited. Got a chance. Missed it. Waited again. Got another chance. Missed it again. Got another chance. Missed that as well. Eventually, in attempt number 4, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru have won their first IPL title, in their 18th year. Tears of joy are flowing through Virat Kohli's eyes and while everyone is celebrating, he takes this moment to compose himself. The last few months seem to have been scripted by destiny in his favour. First, the T20 World Cup. Then, the Champions Trophy. Now, the IPL. Who knows, if Jasprit Bumrah had been fit to bowl in the Sydney Test, Kohli might have still been playing for another trophy in the WTC final! The only player to represent ONE TEAM in the history of the IPL - VIRAT KOHLI - this moment is as much of yours, as it is for the whole of Bengaluru. Soak it in.