18 years of heartbreak. 18 years of pain. It has all finally paid off for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Virat Kohli as they have been crowned the champions of IPL 2025.
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RCB beat Punjab Kings (PBKS) for the third time this season, winning the crucial final battle at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on June 3, 2025.
The Sporting News takes a look at three key reasons for RCB's championship victory under skipper Rajat Patidar.
Three reasons why Royal Challengers Bengaluru won the IPL 2025 title
Experienced bowlers and a perfect away record
Picking up Josh Hazlewood at the mega auction was a complete game-changer for RCB. His addition turned the bowling attack from punching bags in the league to a world-class unit.
The Aussie pacer averaged under 16 with the ball and picked up over 20 wickets in the season. His consistent line and lengths made it difficult, did not give any leeway for the opposition batters.
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Additionally, he was well complemented by experienced campaigner Bhuvneshwar Kumar and a reliable Yash Dayal, both of whom turned the tide in RCB's favour during the season.
Unlike previous seasons, this bowling attack was well-rounded to adapt to any conditions, and coupled with an already strong batting, RCB became a dangerous, unbeatable side on the road. Their perfect record in away matches was a highlight of their historic season under Patidar.
RCB's top order and strong finishing core
RCB's openers, Virat Kohli and Phil Salt, were a perfect blend of smart and explosive batting. The duo provided quick and impactful starts for the side -- while Kohli scored over 600 runs in the season, Salt struck at over 170 across the season, scoring just over 400 runs.
Devdutt Padikkal's contributions, despite his injury before the playoffs, cannot be understated -- most notably in wins against PBKS (at Mullanpur) and RR (in Bengaluru).
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Most importantly, the finishing core of Jitesh Sharma, Tim David, and Romario Shepherd's late cameos guided RCB to wins from tricky situations, ensuring that the side finished in the top 2 at the end of the league stage.
Andy Flower's winning track record
Flower's teams have made it to the playoffs in each of the last four seasons. After LSG in 2022 and 2023, he moved to RCB, with whom he qualified in 2024 and won the title in 2025.
The Englishman has a proven track record of success as a coach in T20 leagues across the world, from winning titles at The Hundred in England to the PSL in Pakistan. He has transformed teams where he has coached with a clever mix of analytics and smart man-management.
Under Flower, teams thrive -- they don't rely on individuals, and RCB are proof of it. The IPL 2025 Champions had nine different Player of the Match winners during the season -- a massive achievement, showcasing contributions from players across the squad.