RCB vs PBKS

And so, as IPL 2025 comes to a close, it's only fitting we wind up with this moment - Virat Kohli lifts the cup with AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle! RCB's three biggest icons lift the trophy together - this is the stuff of posters and we could see so many of these adorn the bedrooms of countless RCB fans all around the globe. The wait is over - Ee Sala Cup RCB de! And with that, it's time for us to bid adieu after more than two months of exhilarating cricketing action. It was quite a ride and we could not be more grateful that you were with us all along as part of this journey! Plenty more cricket coming up of course - there's the WTC final next week so do ensure you're back here on Sportskeeda to catch it all. For the moment though, allow us - Pradeep, Darpan Tikiya and Sooryanarayanan Sesha - to take you leave. Adios! Good night! Dhanyavaadagalu!

Phew! What a season! And it's fair we have a quick recap:

It all started on May 22. RCB kickstarted the season in Kolkata and the signs were there. They were rampant and unstoppable and it felt as though the stars were aligning. So much happened though - monstrous totals were whipped up, but reverse swing marked its return with bowlers allowed to apply saliva on the ball. That didn't bring down the number of sixes we saw though.

Nicholas Pooran went on a six-hitting spree but Sai Sudharsan showed that there is more than one way to score runs, going about it in risk-free fashion to pile up a mountain of them. Prasidh Krishna, meanwhile, picked up a truckload of wickets in what was quite a remarkable season. But there were so many other moments too - Ashutosh Sharma snatched an improbable win for the Delhi Capitals, for whom the wheels came off eventually though. Contrast that with the Mumbai Indians, who flipped their campaign around after four defeats in five games to storm into the playoffs. It wasn't all rosy for the other five-time champs though as the Chennai Super Kings finished at the bottom of the table for the very first time.

This season saw a score of 245 chased down and the lowest ever total successfully defended. The Punjab Kings rode on the second of those to enjoy a dream campaign and there was no dearth to the number of close finishes yet again. The tournament witnessed a brief halt too but it did not stop their charge. And it surely didn't halt RCB's charge as they finished in the top two after a stellar Jitesh Sharma innings. Were the stars aligning? They sure were, as two more wins followed. And it was fitting that a team that won each of its seven away games for the very first time lifted the trophy at the end of it all!

12:40 AM IST: Virat Kohli roars in euphoria! Having waited a good part of two decades, this is his moment. This is RCB's moment. This is a moment for each of its fans. Stories to narrate for years and years to come for a very passionate fanbase! He lifts the trophy and gives it a kiss. Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers are on the stage with him, with one hand each on the trophy.

12:34 AM IST: Rajat Patidar walks up to the dais and receives the trophy. He holds it close to his chest and waits for this mates to come up and join him. Kohli leads the pack walking onto the stage in kingly fashion. Meanwhile, Krunal Pandya is jumping joyously like a kid. They get around the silverware. Patidar raises it up in the air and bam! The pyros go off. The fans might struggle to find their voices over the course of the next one week. But it does not matter. Right now, it is all about relishing this moment. Chants of "RCB, RCB" are so loud that they might be echoing all around the city of Ahmedabad. 

The glitz and glam of the celebrations are punctuated by the flashes coming from the thousands of phones in the stands. Everyone wants to capture this moment. Then, they gather around the to pose for pictures around the specially crafted 3-D banner that reads "CHAMPIONS".

Rajat Patidar [Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain]: "It is really special for me, special for Virat Kohli and all the fans. Those who have supported from years, they deserve it. After the Qualifier 1, we thought we can do this. 190 was a good score on this track, bit slow and the bowlers executed their plans, tremendous to watch. Krunal is a wicket taking bowler, whenever I'm under pressure, I go to it. All the fast bowlers, Bhuvi, Hazlewood and Romario gave us the breakthrough as well. For me, it's a great opportunity to the great man, great learning for me. He deserved more than anyone else. Virat Kohli and all the fans, the way the team management, support staff all have supported, it's very good. I want to say something for the fans - Ee sala cup namdu"

And now, time for the champions. This is the moment that RCB have been waiting for all along - they are the champions and Andy Flower, the head coach, comes up to collect a limited edition watch for each member of the team. Skipper Rajat Patidar now comes up to receive the winner's cheque of INR 20 crore. A title-winning skipper on first attempt - he will go down as an absolute darling of the masses in Bengaluru alright!

Shreyas Iyer (Punjab Kings captain): "Dejected, but the way boys came up to the occasion was commendable. We had our moments. Lot of credit goes to the management, the support staff. Considering the game we played against MI, I personally felt 200 was the par score. But they bowled really well, especially Krunal. He brought in all his experience. I am very proud of the entire team. All the youngsters played some fearless cricket. Job is still have done. We have to receive the trophy next year. The way we turned up to every game was a big positive. There are lot of youngsters in this side. They will have more experience next year and I am sure they will do even better."

It's now time for the Punjab Kings to receive their runners-up cheque and plate. Shreyas Iyer, the captain, makes his way up to collect it. Make absolutely no mistake, this has been a campaign to remember and be proud of for PBKS. Not to be today, but this is a team that has the makings of a serious title-winning team down the line. After years of disappointment, they surely have plenty of reason to believe that the future is bright!

Time for the biggest individual award - the Most Valuable Player of the Season. And it goes to MI's Suryakumar Yadav - 25+ in every innings he played. Absolutely well-deserved!

Here's what he has to say: I'm extremely honored to be receiing the Most Valuable Player of the season. I just want to thank everyone who supported me throughout. I'm really looking forward to continuing it.

Prasidh Krishna walks away with the Purple Cap for the most wickets this season (25). He's not there - so you know who's accepting the award don't know? Sudharsan of course!

It's been a tough season for the Chennai Super Kings, but they win the Fairplay Award for the season. Mr. Brijesh Patel accepts the award on CSK's behalf!

Kamindu Mendis of the Sunrisers Hyderabad wins the award for the Best Catch of the season. That stunner he plucked to dismiss Dewald Brevis surely is one for the ages!

Sudharsan's back again. But this time, to receive an award on behalf of his teammate as Gujarat Titans' Mohammed Siraj wins the award for bowling the most dot balls this season.

Nicholas Pooran of Lucknow Super Giants wins the Super Sixes of the season award for smashing 40 sixes. Romario Shepherd will collect the award on his behalf!

Sai Sudharsan is back on stage as he's the Fantasy King of the season for accumulating the most fantasy points. Not the last time he's coming on stage today, we can tell you that!