Punjab Kings Crowned IPL 2025 Champions

Punjab Kings Crowned IPL 2025 : In a historic night at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium, the Punjab Kings (PBKS) shattered their 17-year title drought by defeating Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) by 8 wickets in a masterfully chased final. This victory marks PBKS’s maiden IPL title, while RCB’s agonizing wait for silverware extends into an 18th season. Here’s the full breakdown of this epic clash.

Match at a Glance

RCB: 190/9 (20 overs)
Top Scorer: Virat Kohli (43 off 35)
Key Bowlers: Arshdeep Singh (3/40), Kyle Jamieson (3/48)
PBKS: 194/2 (18.3 overs)
Top Scorer: Priyansh Arya (103* off 58)
Key Support: Shreyas Iyer (67* off 42)
Result: PBKS won by 8 wickets
Player of the Match: Priyansh Arya

RCB’s Innings: Kohli Fights, But PBKS Bowlers Strike Late

Powerplay (0-6 overs): RCB started aggressively with Phil Salt (16 off 9) smashing boundaries, but his dismissal by Kyle Jamieson in the 2nd over shifted momentum. Skipper Shreyas Iyer ignited PBKS with a roaring celebration after taking Salt’s catch. Virat Kohli and Mayank Agarwal (24 off 18) then stabilized the innings, reaching 59/1 after 6 overs.

Middle Overs (7-15): Spinner Yuzvendra Chahal removed Agarwal, exploiting his weakness against leg-spin (7th dismissal by Chahal vs Mayank in IPL). Kohli anchored the innings but struggled for fluency, scoring at 122.85 SR. Jamieson’s clever slower yorker trapped Rajat Patidar (26 off 16) lbw, and Azmatullah Omarzai’s bouncer ended Kohli’s labored knock (43 off 35).

Death Overs (16-20): Liam Livingstone (25 off 15) and Jitesh Sharma (24 off 10) revived RCB with a 23-run over off Jamieson, including 3 sixes. However, Vijaykumar Vyshak (1/30) dismissed Jitesh, and Arshdeep Singh delivered a stunning final over: 3 wickets for 3 runs, including Romario Shepherd and Krunal Pandya. RCB finished at 190/9—20 runs below par on this pitch.

PBKS Chase: Arya-Iyer Masterclass Seals History

Powerplay Blitz: Openers Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh (12 off 10) started fearlessly. Arya flicked Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s first ball for four, setting the tone. PBKS raced to 65/0 in 6 overs—outpacing RCB’s start.

Arya’s Century Charge: Arya dominated RCB’s pace attack, hitting 10 fours and 5 sixes. He reached his 50 off 28 balls and his century off 56—the first IPL final hundred since 2017. His shot selection against spin was particularly brutal.

Iyer’s Captain’s Knock: After Prabhsimran fell, Shreyas Iyer joined Arya, and the duo dismantled RCB. Iyer’s unbeaten 67* included 6 fours and 3 sixes, targeting mid-wicket and cover regions. Their 139-run partnership came at 11.2 runs/over, sealing the win with 9 balls left.

Key Performances & Tactics

Priyansh Arya (103*):

Strike Rate: 177.59
Boundaries: 10 fours, 5 sixes
MVP for his fearless assault in a high-pressure chase.

Arshdeep Singh (3/40):

His final over (3 wickets for 3 runs) crushed RCB’s death-overs momentum.
Finished IPL 2025 with 21 wickets—4th highest for PBKS in a season.

PBKS’s Bowling Adjustments:

Hard lengths (53 balls) yielded 2/87, while full lengths (12 balls) conceded just 4/11.
Impact Sub: Prabhsimran replaced Chahal pre-chase, strengthening batting.

RCB’s Missed Opportunities:

Kohli’s strike rate (122.85) hurt RCB’s middle overs.
Dropped catch (Shepherd on 17) cost 20+ runs.

Where to Watch Replay & Full Scorecard

Official IPL Platform: IPLT20.com for royal challengers bengaluru vs punjab kings match scorecard, highlights, and ball-by-ball commentary.
Streaming:
US/Canada: Willow TV, Sling TV
UK: Sky Sports Cricket
India: JioCinema (free), Star Sports Network.

Tournament Context & Records

PBKS’s Road to Victory: Finished top of the league stage (9 wins), then beat Mumbai Indians in Eliminator before dominating RCB twice in playoffs.
Kohli’s Milestone: Became the highest run-scorer vs PBKS in IPL history (1,159 runs), but fell short of a 9th season fifty.
RCB’s Heartbreak: Fourth final loss (2009, 2011, 2016, 2025).

Final Verdict

The IPL 2025 final was a tale of two franchises: PBKS, led by the tactical acumen of Shreyas Iyer and explosive brilliance of Priyansh Arya, finally shed their “underachievers” tag. For RCB, despite Kohli’s emotional quest, their trophy drought persists—a storyline that continues to define their legacy. As the dust settles, PBKS’s victory signals a new era in IPL dominance, built on fearless cricket and clutch performances.

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