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In a historic night at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) finally lifted their first Indian Premier League (IPL) trophy after 18 long years of heartbreak. They edged past Punjab Kings (PBKS) by just 6 runs in a dramatic final on June 3, 2025. Batting first, RCB posted 190/9, with Virat Kohli anchoring the innings with a gritty 43 off 35 on a slightly tacky surface. Despite middle-order stutters, late runs by Jitesh Sharma and Romario Shepherd pushed the total close to 200. In reply, PBKS were cruising at one point, but RCB bowlers staged a stunning comeback in the death overs. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal and Josh Hazlewood held their nerves, sealing the win in the final over.
Anushka Sharma caught chanting ‘ABD-ABD’ as RCB ends long title wait
As the final wicket fell, the cameras zoomed in on Kohli, who was visibly emotional. The weight of years of near-misses, heartbreaks, and social media scrutiny had finally been lifted. A heartwarming moment came when, during the Punjab innings, AB de Villiers, Kohli’s long-time teammate and RCB legend, appeared on the big screen during the final overs. The crowd erupted in chants of ‘ABD! ABD!’, and Anushka Sharma, Kohli’s wife, was spotted joining in the chants from the stands, a video that has since gone viral. De Villiers, now part of the commentary panel, came pitch-side for the final moments. Kohli shared eye contact with him after a wicket, a silent nod to years of shared ambition.
Here’s the video:
Anushka chanting ABD…ABD with the crowd. How can anyone hate her, she is so good ❤️ pic.twitter.com/5kKahzmMwP
— Yashvi (@BreatheKohli) June 3, 2025
Also WATCH: Virat Kohli breaks down in tears as RCB ends 18-year drought to lift IPL trophy
RCB end 18-year wait as they clinch maiden IPL title in thriller
For a team so often labelled as underachievers, this win was not just about a trophy, it was about redemption. The franchise that debuted in 2008 with stars like Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble had been to three finals before this (2009, 2011, and 2016), but victory had eluded them. Kohli, who has been with the franchise since the start, finally exorcised the ghosts of the past. Punjab, chasing their own maiden title, fought valiantly, with captain Shreyas Iyer leading his troops well. But the match slipped away in the 18th and 19th overs, where Bhuvneshwar and Krunal Pandya brought RCB back from the brink. As Kohli lifted the trophy, with red fireworks in the background and chants echoing through Ahmedabad, it felt like a page had turned — for him, for RCB, and for IPL history.
Also READ: Vijay Mallya’s unmissable post goes viral after RCB wins IPL 2025 title
