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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Highlights, and Key TakeawaysMay 23, 2025 | Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow

Match Overview

In a high-octane clash between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), SRH delivered a dominant batting performance to post 231/6 in their 20 overs. This match, crucial for RCB’s playoff ambitions, saw Ishan Kishan shine with an unbeaten 94 (48 balls), anchoring SRH’s innings despite regular wickets. RCB, who elected to field first, struggled with their bowling tactics and a slow over-rate penalty, which limited their fielding options in the death overs .

SRH vs RCB: Full Match Scorecard

Here’s a detailed breakdown of the Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru match scorecard:

Sunrisers Hyderabad Innings

Batter	Runs	Balls	4s	6s	Strike Rate	Dismissal
Abhishek Sharma	34	17	3	3	200.00	c Salt b Ngidi
Travis Head	17	10	3	0	170.00	c Shepherd b Bhuvneshwar
Ishan Kishan (wk)	94*	48	7	5	195.83	Not Out
Heinrich Klaasen	24	13	2	2	184.62	c Shepherd b Suyash
Aniket Verma	26	9	1	3	288.89	c Bhuvneshwar b Krunal
Nitish Reddy	4	7	0	0	57.14	c Krunal b Shepherd
Abhinav Manohar	12	11	0	1	109.09	c Salt b Shepherd
Pat Cummins (c)	13*	6	0	1	216.67	Not Out
Extras	7 (lb 4, w 2, nb 1)
Total	231/6 (20 Overs)

Fall of Wickets:

54/1 (Abhishek Sharma, 3.6 ov)
54/2 (Travis Head, 4.2 ov)
102/3 (Heinrich Klaasen, 8.5 ov)
145/4 (Aniket Verma, 11.4 ov)
164/5 (Nitish Reddy, 14.2 ov)
188/6 (Abhinav Manohar, 16.6 ov)

RCB Bowling Highlights:

Romario Shepherd: 2/14 in 2 overs (Economy: 7.00)
Krunal Pandya: 1/38 in 4 overs (Economy: 9.50)
Lungi Ngidi: 1/51 in 4 overs (Economy: 12.80)
Suyash Sharma: 1/45 in 3 overs (Economy: 15.00)

For the full scorecard, visit ESPNcricinfo or Cricbuzz .

Key Moments from SRH vs RCB

Explosive Start by SRH Openers:
Abhishek Sharma (34 off 17) and Travis Head (17 off 10) blazed 54 runs in just 4 overs. Abhishek’s three sixes off Bhuvneshwar Kumar set the tone, while Head’s aggressive intent kept RCB on the back foot .
Ishan Kishan’s Masterclass:
The SRH wicketkeeper-batter anchored the innings with a career-best 94*, striking at 195.83. His partnerships with Klaasen (24 off 13) and Aniket Verma (26 off 9) ensured SRH crossed 200 despite middle-order wobbles .
RCB’s Over-Rate Penalty:
RCB’s slow over-rate forced them to field with only four players outside the 30-yard circle in the final overs. This proved costly as Cummins (13* off 6) and Kishan plundered 43 runs in the last three overs .
Aniket Verma’s Cameo:
Promoted up the order, Verma smashed 26 off 9 balls, including three sixes off Suyash Sharma. His dismissal to Krunal Pandya halted SRH’s momentum temporarily .
Tim David’s Injury:
RCB’s Tim David suffered a hamstring strain while fielding, raising concerns about his availability for upcoming playoff matches. Jacob Bethell replaced him as a substitute .

Turning Points

Powerplay Carnage: SRH raced to 71/2 in 6 overs, their second-highest powerplay score of IPL 2025.
Klaasen’s Dismissal: Suyash Sharma’s wrong’un ended Klaasen’s cameo, but Kishan’s composure kept SRH on track .
Death Over Blitz: Kishan and Cummins added 43 runs in the final 18 balls, exploiting RCB’s fielding restrictions .

Tactical Analysis

SRH’s Batting Depth: Despite losing early wickets, SRH’s middle order (Klaasen, Verma, Manohar) provided quick runs. Their decision to promote Verma paid off .
RCB’s Bowling Struggles: Spinners Suyash Sharma (1/45) and Krunal Pandya (1/38) leaked runs, while Ngidi’s 19th over cost 13 runs .
Impact of Venue Shift: The match, originally scheduled in Bengaluru, was moved to Lucknow due to weather. The Ekana Stadium’s shorter boundaries (60m and 67m) favored aggressive batting .

SRH vs RCB Head-to-Head Stats

Total Matches: 26
SRH Wins: 13
RCB Wins: 12
No Result: 1
Highest Total: SRH 287/3 (2024) | RCB 262/7 (2024)
Last Meeting: RCB won by 35 runs (April 25, 2024) .

Fantasy Cricket Insights

Top Picks: Ishan Kishan (94*), Aniket Verma (26 off 9), Romario Shepherd (2/14).
Differential Picks: Pat Cummins (13* & economical bowling), Krunal Pandya (1/38 & economical spin).
Avoid: Suyash Sharma (1/45) and Yash Dayal (0/21 in 2 overs) struggled with line and length .

For fantasy tips, visit Spinmatch .

What’s Next for RCB and SRH?

RCB: Need wins in remaining matches to secure a top-two finish. Their playoff hopes hinge on Gujarat Titans’ results .
SRH: End their campaign with pride. Focus shifts to rebuilding for IPL 2026 .

FAQs

Why was the match moved to Lucknow?
Unplayable weather in Bengaluru forced the shift to Ekana Stadium .
Will Tim David miss the playoffs?
RCB is awaiting scan results, but Bethell is likely to replace him .
Who won the SRH vs RCB toss?
RCB’s stand-in captain Jitesh Sharma elected to bowl first .

Final Thoughts

SRH’s 231/6 is the highest total in IPL 2025 so far, showcasing their batting firepower. For RCB, this loss complicates their playoff roadmap, but Virat Kohli’s form (7 fifties in 11 matches) remains a silver lining. With the playoffs approaching, RCB must address their death bowling and fielding lapses to contend for their maiden title.

Catch the replay on JioCinema or relive the highlights on Star Sports .

Stats and scorecard sourced from ESPNcricinfo, Cricbuzz, and Hindustan Times. For real-time updates, follow IPL’s official website.