Year-Ender 2025: The year 2025 will forever remain etched in Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) history as the season when their long wait for IPL glory finally ended - but it will also be remembered
for the heartbreaking tragedy that followed the triumph.
RCB lifted their maiden IPL trophy after 18 years of heartbreak, defeating Punjab Kings in a tense final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on June 3. Defending 190 successfully, RCB scripted one of the most emotional chapters in the league's history.
At the heart of the moment was Virat Kohli. After representing the franchise since the league's inception in 2008, the talismanic batter finally tasted IPL success. Kohli had endured three painful final defeats in 2009, 2011 and 2016, making the 2025 title a deeply personal milestone. With the win, RCB also joined the elite group of franchises to have won both the IPL and the Women's Premier League.
RCB's campaign was marked by consistency and balance. They finished second in the league stage with 19 points from 14 matches, narrowly missing the top spot on net run rate. A dominant win over Punjab Kings in Qualifier 1 then booked them a place in their first final in nearly a decade.
Kohli was the backbone of the batting unit, finishing as RCB's top scorer with 657 runs at an average of 54.75. His opening partner Phil Salt provided explosive starts, striking at nearly 176 as the pair stitched together the most productive opening partnerships of the season. The middle order chipped in regularly, with captain Rajat Patidar, Devdutt Padikkal, Jitesh Sharma and Tim David all playing decisive roles across different phases of the tournament.
The bowling attack delivered when it mattered most. Josh Hazlewood led the wicket charts, while Krunal Pandya proved invaluable with both bat and ball, earning Player of the Match honours in the final. Support from Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Yash Dayal ensured RCB had answers in crunch moments.
However, celebrations in Bengaluru took a tragic turn. A stampede outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium during victory celebrations claimed 11 lives, casting a dark shadow over the historic achievement. The aftermath saw the iconic venue lose major hosting rights, while RCB launched the 'RCB CARES' initiative to support victims' families.
RCB finally reached the summit in 2025, but the cost of celebration served as a sobering reminder that triumph and tragedy can sometimes walk hand in hand.
