Royal Challengers vs Kings: IPL Final Scorecard & Highlights

For 17 years, Royal Challengers Bengaluru kept reaching IPL finals and walking away empty-handed. Three runner-up finishes — 2009, 2011, 2016 — left fans wondering if the wait would ever end. Then, on a Bengaluru evening in 2025, RCB finally broke through against Punjab Kings, winning by 6 runs in what both teams had called their biggest match ever. This is how it happened and what the rivalry looks like with a championship now on the board.

RCB Score: 190 for 9 · PBKS Score: 184 for 7 · Margin: RCB win by 6 runs · Top Scorer RCB: Virat Kohli 43

Who won the final IPL today?

Royal Challengers Bengaluru claimed their maiden IPL title in 2025, defeating Punjab Kings by 6 runs in a tense final at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. RCB posted 190/9 in their 20 overs after PBKS won the toss and chose to field first. PBKS fell short at 184/7 in their chase, unable to breach the target with three balls remaining.

Match scorecard

The final proved to be a nail-biter. RCB’s total of 190/9 was widely regarded as 20–30 runs below par, according to the official IPL match report, putting pressure on PBKS to accelerate early. The chase started promising for PBKS, but tight bowling in the death overs kept the required rate climbing. RCB’s bowlers held their nerve in the final three overs, conceding only 24 runs while taking two wickets to seal the result.

In a game that was most fitting for a final, Royal Challengers Bengaluru managed to keep their nerves to beat Punjab Kings by six runs, with both teams in Red fighting for their maiden title.— IPLT20 Match Report

Key performances

Virat Kohli led the RCB charge with 43 runs, anchoring an innings that saw contributions across the order. Mohammed Siraj was named Player of the Match for his spell of 3 for 27, which broke PBKS’s middle-order momentum at a critical juncture. For PBKS, the chase was built around quick starts, but the loss of three wickets between overs 12 and 16 derailed the acceleration they needed.

Who is better, PBKS or RCB?

A one-match answer does not settle a rivalry. Across 37 IPL meetings, RCB holds a 19–18 edge over PBKS — a margin of exactly one win. The gap has narrowed over recent seasons, with PBKS winning at least one league encounter against RCB in 2025. Head-to-head, the teams have split results fairly evenly regardless of format or venue.

Head-to-head record

RCB’s historical edge stems largely from dominant performances at home. Their biggest win over PBKS came on 6 May 2015 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, a 138-run thrashing that remains the largest margin in this rivalry. RCB also posted a 71-run win at Holkar Stadium on 14 May 2018 and beat PBKS by 10 wickets in a separate 2018 encounter.

PBKS’s best result against RCB was a 111-run victory in 2011, back when the franchise operated as Kings XI Punjab. The teams also faced each other in Qualifier 1 of the 2025 playoffs, with RCB winning by 60 runs — the biggest playoff win by balls remaining in IPL history, completing the chase with 60 balls still to bowl.

All-time IPL stats

When comparing overall IPL standing, RCB has appeared in four finals (2009, 2011, 2016, 2025) with one win. PBKS has reached two finals (2014, 2025) without winning. RCB leads the head-to-head series narrowly, 19–18, in 37 matches. Both franchises have won roughly half their meetings, though RCB’s home record at Bengaluru gives them an structural advantage in this matchup.

Which team is more popular, Kings or Royal Challengers?

Social media following and merchandise sales place RCB among the most supported IPL franchises, largely driven by Virat Kohli’s presence since 2008. PBKS commands strong backing in Punjab and among the diaspora, but RCB’s national and international fan base is measurably larger. Exact follower counts fluctuate and are not published by the league, making precise ranking difficult.

Fan base rankings

RCB has consistently ranked in the top three for social media engagement among IPL teams. The franchise’s association with Kohli, who remains one of cricket’s most-followed athletes globally, gives RCB a visibility advantage. PBKS draws on passionate regional support from Punjab, where cricket loyalty runs deep regardless of the team’s finish on the table.

IPL teams with most fans

Among verified metrics, RCB’s merchandise and digital engagement place it alongside Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings as the three most-followed franchises. PBKS falls in the mid-tier alongside teams like Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad — significant fan bases, but not in the top tier of attendance and social metrics that RCB enjoys.

What is Virat Kohli’s IPL salary?

Virat Kohli began his IPL career with Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2008 at a salary of ₹12 lakh per season, one of the lowest initial salaries in the league that year. Over subsequent auctions, his price rose sharply — ₹60 lakh in 2011, ₹1 crore in 2013, and ₹2 crore by 2016 — reflecting his growing stature as the world’s top-ranked batsman in limited-overs cricket.

Kohli’s RCB journey

Kohli has played every season of his IPL career with RCB, making him one of the few players to represent a single franchise across all seasons since 2008. The 2025 final was his 17th season with RCB, and his 43 runs in the final contributed directly to the championship win he had spent 17 seasons chasing.

Salary history

Kohli’s salary trajectory tracks his evolution from an uncapped rookie to the face of Indian cricket. By 2018, he commanded ₹11 crore per season — among the highest retention salaries in IPL history at that time. Since the 2022 mega auction, he has been retained at ₹15 crore per season, placing him in the top salary bracket alongside players like Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya.

60 Balls remaining when Royal Challengers Bengaluru completed their chase against Punjab Kings on Thursday — the biggest such win for any team in an IPL playoff.— ESPNcricinfo Stats Analyst

Which is the biggest fan base team in IPL?

IPL fan base size is typically measured through social media followers, merchandise revenue, stadium attendance, and television viewership. Mumbai Indians lead by many metrics due to five IPL titles and a large Mumbai metropolitan population. RCB ranks near the top despite zero titles before 2025, driven largely by Kohli’s personal following and Bengaluru’s diverse urban population.

Top fan base teams

Based on available social media and engagement data, Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru consistently rank as the three largest fan bases. Chennai Super Kings benefit from consistent title contention and a loyal South Indian cricketing culture. RCB, despite its long runner-up streak, attracted fans through personality-driven marketing centered on Kohli and AB de Villiers.

RCB vs PBKS popularity

RCB outsizes PBKS in raw social following, but PBKS holds an intensely loyal fan base concentrated in Punjab. The Punjab fan culture translates into sold-out away matches and vocal support regardless of team performance — a trait shared with Chennai Super Kings supporters. RCB’s 2025 title win may close the engagement gap with MI and CSK, but PBKS will need similar championship success to broaden its appeal beyond regional strongholds.

RCB vs PBKS head-to-head comparison table

The rivalry has produced lopsided wins, close finishes, and now a championship-deciding matchup. Across 37 matches, RCB holds a narrow lead in wins, but the comparison extends beyond simple win-loss records.

Virat Kohli’s performance in IPL finals

Kohli’s record across four IPL finals with RCB reflects the team’s rollercoaster history. He scored 43 runs in the 2025 final — enough to contribute meaningfully while others around him fell — and watched the team finally close out a championship rather than another runner-up finish. His previous final scores of 35 (2009), 27 (2011), and 54 (2016) showed promise without breakthrough results.

The 2025 final marked Kohli’s first winning contribution in an IPL final. At 36, it was also his most clutch performance under pressure, coming in a chase where RCB’s total was considered below par. He absorbed pressure in the middle overs before accelerating, a role he has filled throughout his career but rarely under the weight of a championship on the line.

Royal Challengers vs Kings: Key moments timeline

The timeline below traces the rivalry from Kohli’s debut through the 2025 championship, with verified sources for each milestone.

Confirmed vs uncertain: What we know and don’t know

Summary

For the first time in IPL history, Royal Challengers Bengaluru are champions. The 2025 final against Punjab Kings delivered exactly the drama the rivalry deserved — a 6-run margin, a below-par total defended by the skin of RCB’s teeth, and Virat Kohli finally lifting the trophy he had chased for 17 years. PBKS, appearing in only their second final, will carry this loss as motivation. The head-to-head record now reads 19–18 in RCB’s favor, but both teams know the next chapter could flip that margin entirely. For RCB fans, the waiting is over. For PBKS supporters, the hunger for a first title only sharper now.

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The IPL 2025 final saw Royal Challengers edge Punjab Kings by 6 runs, with full details in the Punjab Kings vs RCB scorecard.

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