Jun 4, 2025

Ee Sala Cup Namde: RCB Finally Won Their First IPL Trophy in 2025

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RCB CHAMPIONS

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First IPL Victory • June 3, 2025

FINAL • Narendra Modi Stadium

RCB

190/9

PBKS

184/7

Won by 6 runs

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Years Wait

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Krunal Pandya

Player of Match

After 18 years of heartbreak, near-misses, and the pain of being called “perennial underachievers,” Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) finally did it. On June 3, 2025, they beat Punjab Kings by just 6 runs in a nail-biting final to win their first-ever IPL trophy.

For millions of RCB fans who had chanted “Ee Sala Cup Namde” (This year, the cup is ours) through thick and thin, this wasn’t just a cricket match - it was the end of a long, painful wait.

The Final That Changed Everything

🎯 The Thrilling Final

The final at Ahmedabad’s massive Narendra Modi Stadium had everything - great batting, brilliant bowling, and edge-of-the-seat drama.

RCB’s Batting (190/9 in 20 overs):

Virat Kohli led from the front with 43 runs off 35 balls
Philip Salt gave them a flying start with 16 off 9 balls
Jitesh Sharma’s explosive 24 off 10 balls at the end pushed them to a competitive total
Punjab’s Arshdeep Singh took 3 wickets in the final over to keep them in check

Punjab’s Chase (184/7 in 20 overs):

Started well with openers scoring 43 runs together
But then Krunal Pandya bowled a magical spell, taking 2 wickets for just 17 runs
Shashank Singh played a heroic knock of 61* off 30 balls to keep Punjab in the hunt
In the end, they fell just 6 runs short of glory

The Game-Changing Moments

Philip Salt’s Superman Catch: A gravity-defying catch on the boundary to dismiss Punjab’s opener
Krunal Pandya’s Magic: His spin bowling in the middle overs choked Punjab’s scoring
The Final Over Drama: With Punjab needing just a few runs, RCB held their nerve

RCB’s Journey to the Top

📊 Season Statistics

2nd

League Position

9-4-1

Wins-Losses-No Result

7/7

Perfect Away Record

What Made This Season Different?

1. Perfect Away Record: RCB became the first team in IPL history to win ALL their away matches (7 out of 7) in a season. This showed they could perform anywhere, not just at home.

2. Team Effort: Unlike previous years where they relied too much on star players, this time everyone contributed. They had 9 different Player of the Match winners!

3. Strong Leadership: New captain Rajat Patidar led calmly, while coach Andy Flower built a balanced team.

The Heroes of RCB’s Victory

🏏 Batting Heroes

Virat Kohli: 657 runs, team’s leading scorer
Philip Salt: 400+ runs with explosive strike rate
Jitesh Sharma: The finisher who won crucial matches
Rajat Patidar: Captain who led by example

⚡ Bowling Heroes

Josh Hazlewood: 21 wickets, the pace spearhead
Krunal Pandya: All-rounder who won the final
Yash Dayal: Death bowling specialist
Bhuvneshwar Kumar: Experienced campaigner

Breaking the Curse: What Changed?

For years, RCB had two big problems:

Weak middle order - too dependent on top players
Poor death bowling - couldn’t defend totals

How They Fixed It:

Middle Order Strength:

Added players like Jitesh Sharma, Krunal Pandya, and Mayank Agarwal
These players could both stabilize the innings and hit big shots when needed
No longer relied only on Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers

Better Bowling:

Brought in experienced bowlers like Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Yash Dayal improved dramatically in death overs
Had spinners like Krunal Pandya who could control the middle overs

Records and Milestones

🏆 Historic Achievements

Team Records:

First IPL title in 18 years of trying
Perfect 7-0 away record (first time in IPL history)
Biggest playoff win margin (beat Punjab by 60 balls in Qualifier 1)

Virat Kohli’s Milestones:

Most fours in IPL history (771 fours)
9,000 T20 runs for RCB (first player to achieve this for one team)
Fifth season with 600+ runs

Other Notable Records:

Jitesh Sharma’s 85* - highest score by a No. 6 batsman in IPL
RCB’s 230/4 vs LSG - their highest successful chase ever

The Emotional Victory

The moment RCB won, Virat Kohli - who had been with the team since 2008 - broke down in tears. For him, this was the one trophy missing from his incredible career.

Across Bengaluru and India, millions of fans celebrated. Streets turned red and gold, fireworks lit up the sky, and social media exploded with joy. The chant “Ee Sala Cup Namde” was no longer a hopeful wish - it was reality.

Even international figures like British PM Rishi Sunak (an RCB fan) celebrated the victory!

What This Means for the Future

🚀 Impact of the Victory

For RCB:

Higher brand value and better sponsorship deals
No more “underachiever” tag
Stronger fan loyalty and engagement

For Virat Kohli:

Completes his trophy cabinet (World Cup ✅, T20 World Cup ✅, IPL ✅)
Cements his legacy as a T20 champion
Personal satisfaction after 18 years of trying

For IPL:

Shows any team can win with the right strategy
Proves building a balanced team works better than relying on superstars
Inspires other franchises to think long-term

The Perfect Blueprint

RCB’s victory wasn’t lucky - it was planned. Their strategy of:

Buying smart, not expensive
Building team depth instead of relying on stars
Addressing historical weaknesses
Trusting young leadership

…became a blueprint that other IPL teams will surely study and copy.

Conclusion: A Dream 18 Years in the Making

June 3, 2025, will be remembered as the day when hope finally became reality. When “Ee Sala Cup Namde” stopped being a meme and became a celebration. When Virat Kohli’s tears of joy matched those of millions of fans worldwide.

RCB’s first IPL trophy wasn’t just about cricket - it was about never giving up, about loyalty being rewarded, and about dreams coming true, no matter how long it takes.

For RCB and their fans, the wait is finally over. The cup is finally theirs - “Ee Sala Cup Namde!”