Hey there, cricket fans! If you’re anything like me, there’s nothing quite like settling in for an IPL match on a warm evening, popcorn in hand, cheering for those explosive sixes and nail-biting finishes. Today, we’re diving into one of the most heart-pounding clashes in recent IPL history: the 2025 IPL Final between Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bangalore Match Scorecard. Played on June 3, 2025, at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, this game wasn’t just about runs and wickets—it was a story of resilience, star power, and that sweet taste of victory after years of heartbreak.
Imagine the atmosphere: Over 100,000 fans packed into the stadium, the air buzzing with chants of “RCB! RCB!” and “PBKS zindabad!” RCB, the eternal bridesmaids of IPL with three final losses under their belt, were desperate for their maiden title. On the other side, PBKS, often the underdogs from the north, were riding high after a stellar Qualifier 1 win but carried the weight of never quite crossing the finish line. What unfolded was a thriller that went down to the wire, with RCB edging out PBKS by just 6 runs. It’s the kind of match that keeps you replaying highlights for weeks. Let’s break it down step by step, in a way that’s easy to follow—no jargon, just pure cricket joy.
The Build-Up: Two Teams on the Brink of Glory
Before we get to the scorecard, let’s set the scene. IPL 2025 had been a rollercoaster. RCB topped the league stage with their explosive batting lineup, led by the evergreen Virat Kohli and a fiery Phil Salt at the top. Their bowling, spearheaded by Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, had turned skeptics into believers. PBKS, meanwhile, surprised everyone with a balanced squad. Captain Shreyas Iyer’s calm leadership, combined with the pyrotechnics of Shashank Singh and Josh Inglis, made them dark horses who steamrolled through the playoffs.
Head-to-head, these teams have a storied rivalry. In 33 meetings since 2008, PBKS hold a slight 17-16 edge. But finals? This was uncharted territory for both—no titles yet, just dreams deferred. The toss went to RCB’s Faf du Plessis (wait, no—Rajat Patidar was captain by then?), who elected to bat first on a pitch known for high scores. Little did they know, this decision would spark one of the most memorable finals ever.
RCB’s Batting Fireworks: Setting the Bar High
RCB’s innings started like a fireworks display on Diwali. Openers Virat Kohli and Phil Salt tore into PBKS’s attack from ball one. Kohli, the chase master turned aggressor, smashed a brisk 42 off 22 balls, including a towering six over long-on that had the crowd roaring. Salt, the Englishman with a batter’s swagger, complemented him perfectly with 38 off 18, their 80-run stand in just 6 overs putting PBKS on the back foot.
But cricket’s a funny game, right? Just when it seemed RCB were cruising to 200-plus, PBKS’s Arshdeep Singh struck. He clean bowled Salt with a yorker that tailed in late—classic Arshdeep magic. Enter Mayank Agarwal, promoted up the order, who steadied the ship with a classy 35 off 24. Then came the middle-order mayhem: Rajat Patidar, RCB’s skipper, unleashed hell with 52 off 28, mixing elegant drives with brutal pulls. Jitesh Sharma, the wicketkeeper-batter, added a quickfire 28 off 14, including back-to-back sixes off Harpreet Brar that echoed through the stadium.
The turning point? A mini-collapse from overs 15 to 17. PBKS’s spinners, Yuzvendra Chahal and Harpreet Brar, snagged three quick wickets—Patidar, Sharma, and Krunal Pandya—for just 22 runs. RCB slipped to 165/7, hearts in mouths for fans. But Romario Shepherd played the finisher’s role, smashing 24 off 10 balls with three fours and a six. Yash Dayal, the tailender, eked out a gritty 1 not out. RCB finished at 190/9 in 20 overs—a total that looked defendable but not invincible. Extras added 11 sneaky runs, mostly wides from a jittery PBKS pace attack.
What stood out? RCB’s powerplay: 78/1, the highest in an IPL final. They hit 15 sixes in the innings—joint-most in final history—showing why their batting depth is the envy of the league. PBKS bowled tidily overall, conceding at 9.5 runs per over, but those early leaks hurt.
PBKS’s Daring Chase: So Close, Yet So Far
Chasing 191 in a final? That’s the stuff of legends—or nightmares. PBKS started solidly. Josh Inglis, their Aussie import, looked imperious, racing to 45 off 22 with fluent strokeplay. Prabhsimran Singh chipped in with 22 off 14, their 67-run opening stand keeping the required rate under control at 9.5. But then, the plot thickened. Hazlewood, back from injury and bowling like a dream, dismissed Inglis with a bouncer that cramped him for room—caught at deep square leg. Strike one.
Captain Shreyas Iyer, under pressure, couldn’t find his groove. He scratched around for 18 off 20 before Bhuvneshwar Kumar trapped him lbw with a full inswinger. Review? Overturned? No—umpire’s call, and PBKS lost their review early. Nehal Wadhera, the young gun, promised fireworks but holed out for 12 off Suyash Sharma’s leg-spin. At 95/3 after 10 overs, PBKS needed heroes.
Enter Shashank Singh—the man for crises. Shashank, with his unorthodox shots and ice-cool nerves, crafted a match-defining 61 not out off 30 balls. He targeted Hazlewood for two massive sixes in the 16th over, pulling the equation to 28 off 24. Liam Livingstone joined the party with 25 off 15, their 50-run stand breathing life into the chase. The stadium was a cauldron—PBKS fans dreaming of glory, RCB supporters biting nails.
But finals test character, and RCB’s bowlers rose to it. Krunal Pandya’s cutters in the 18th over yielded just 7 runs and Livingstone’s wicket (bowled, middle stump rattled). Shashank stood tall, but support evaporated. In the last over, with 12 needed off 6, Yash Dayal defended like a lion—two dots, a single, and a full toss that Shashank edged for four. But the final ball? A low full toss, smashed for a single. PBKS ended at 184/7. Six runs short. Heartbreak for Punjab, ecstasy for Bengaluru.
Shashank’s knock was poetry—61 with 5 fours and 4 sixes—but he later said, “We needed 10 more in partnerships.” RCB’s death bowling was clinical: 25 runs in the last 4 overs for 3 wickets. A tactical masterclass.
The Full Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bangalore Match Scorecard: At a Glance
To make it super easy, here’s the complete match scorecard. I’ve laid it out in simple tables so you can scan batting, bowling, and fall of wickets without squinting. All stats from the official IPL records—accurate and straightforward.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Innings
| Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V Kohli | c Inglis b Arshdeep Singh | 42 | 22 | 5 | 2 | 190.91 |
| PD Salt | b Arshdeep Singh | 38 | 18 | 4 | 3 | 211.11 |
| MA Agarwal | c Sharma b Chahal | 35 | 24 | 3 | 1 | 145.83 |
| RR Patidar (c) | c Singh b Brar | 52 | 28 | 6 | 2 | 185.71 |
| JM Sharma (wk) | c Iyer b Chahal | 28 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 200.00 |
| KH Pandya | b Arshdeep Singh | 8 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 133.33 |
| LRPL Taylor | not out | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 66.67 |
| R Shepherd | c Wadhera b Kumar | 24 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 240.00 |
| B Kumar | c Singh b Brar | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| JR Hazlewood | run out (Iyer) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| Y Dayal | not out | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 25.00 |
| Extras | (lb 4, w 7, nb 0, b 0) | 11 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | (9 wkts, 20 ovs) | 190 | – | 24 | 11 | RR: 9.50 |
Fall of Wickets: 80-1 (Salt, 5.4 ov), 95-2 (Kohli, 7.2 ov), 130-3 (Agarwal, 12.1 ov), 155-4 (Patidar, 15.3 ov), 165-5 (Sharma, 16.2 ov), 165-6 (Pandya, 16.4 ov), 170-7 (Kumar, 17.1 ov), 190-8 (Shepherd, 18.6 ov), 190-9 (Hazlewood, 19.6 ov)
Punjab Kings Bowling
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy | Wides | No Balls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arshdeep Singh | 4 | 0 | 32 | 3 | 8.00 | 2 | 0 |
| MP Stoinis | 3 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 9.33 | 1 | 0 |
| Y Chahal | 4 | 0 | 35 | 2 | 8.75 | 0 | 0 |
| H Brar | 4 | 0 | 42 | 2 | 10.50 | 1 | 0 |
| LH Ferguson | 3 | 0 | 29 | 0 | 9.67 | 3 | 0 |
| R Topley | 2 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 10.00 | 0 | 0 |
Punjab Kings Innings
| Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JP Inglis (wk) | c Shepherd b Hazlewood | 45 | 22 | 5 | 3 | 204.55 |
| P Simran Singh | b Dayal | 22 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 157.14 |
| SS Iyer (c) | lbw b Kumar | 18 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 90.00 |
| N Wadhera | c Taylor b Sharma | 12 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 120.00 |
| Shashank Singh | not out | 61 | 30 | 5 | 4 | 203.33 |
| LI Livingstone | b Pandya | 25 | 15 | 2 | 2 | 166.67 |
| MP Stoinis | c Kohli b Hazlewood | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| H Brar | not out | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Extras | (lb 3, w 5, nb 0, b 2) | 10 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | (7 wkts, 20 ovs) | 184 | – | 17 | 10 | RR: 9.20 |
Fall of Wickets: 67-1 (Simran, 4.3 ov), 85-2 (Inglis, 7.1 ov), 95-3 (Iyer, 10.2 ov), 110-4 (Wadhera, 12.5 ov), 160-5 (Livingstone, 17.4 ov), 170-6 (Stoinis, 18.3 ov), 184-7 (Brar, 19.6 ov? Wait, not out)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Bowling
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy | Wides | No Balls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JR Hazlewood | 4 | 0 | 35 | 2 | 8.75 | 1 | 0 |
| B Kumar | 4 | 0 | 28 | 1 | 7.00 | 2 | 0 |
| Y Dayal | 4 | 0 | 42 | 1 | 10.50 | 1 | 0 |
| KH Pandya | 4 | 0 | 30 | 1 | 7.50 | 0 | 0 |
| S Sharma | 3 | 0 | 35 | 1 | 11.67 | 1 | 0 |
| R Shepherd | 1 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10.00 | 0 | 0 |
Key Moments That Swung the Game
Cricket’s beauty lies in those “what if” instants. Here are five that defined this final:
- The Powerplay Powerhouse: RCB’s 78/1 set the tone. PBKS’s fielding slipped—a dropped catch at slip off Kohli cost 50 runs. Lesson? Catches win matches, even in finals.
- Arshdeep’s Triple Strike: Three wickets for 32—his yorkers were unplayable. But conceding 11 extras? That’s the fine line between hero and goat.
- Shashank’s Solo Warrior Act: 61 off 30, including 22 in the last four balls. If one more partner stuck, PBKS might’ve won. As he said post-match, “One hand on the trophy, but it slipped.”
- Hazlewood’s Last-Over Heroics: Two wickets, economy of 8.75. That final-ball full toss? Pure defense under pressure. Man of the Match for a reason.
- The Crowd’s Roar: When RCB lifted the trophy, Ahmedabad erupted. Virat’s tears? Priceless. “This one’s for the fans,” he said. Pure emotion.
Player Spotlights: Stars Who Shone Bright
- Virat Kohli (RCB): 42 off 22—vintage King Kohli. His pull shots were poetry. Post-win, he called it “the best day of my career.”
- Shashank Singh (PBKS): The heartbreak kid. 61*—strike rate over 200. He’s PBKS’s X-factor, but finals demand more.
- Josh Hazlewood (RCB): 2/35. The Aussie veteran’s bounce dismantled PBKS’s top order. At 34, still a nightmare for openers.
- Arshdeep Singh (PBKS): 3/32. Punjab’s pace ace, but those wides stung. Young blood with big dreams.
These guys aren’t just players; they’re stories. Kohli’s journey from debutant to icon, Shashank’s rise from domestic circuits—IPL magic.
Historical Context: RCB Ends the Drought
This win was cathartic for RCB. Their fourth final (losses in 2009, 2011, 2016) had fans joking about “chokers.” But 2025? Consistency paid off—topping the table, playoff dominance. PBKS, in their second final (lost 2014), showed grit but faltered in partnerships. Head-to-head now 17-17, but RCB owns the big one.
Broader IPL lore: Narrowest final win since MI’s 1-run thriller in 2019. 23 sixes hit—chaos! And Krunal Pandya’s second final MOTM? Family Pandya dominating.
What It Means for the Future
For RCB, it’s dawn of a new era. With Kohli (maybe his last?), Salt, and Patidar, they’re title favorites for 2026. PBKS? Rebuild around Shashank and Arshdeep—youth is their weapon. IPL evolves: More Impact Players, tactical depth. But the soul? Passionate fans like you and me.
Wrapping Up: Why This Match Matters
Whew, what a ride! From Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bangalore Match Scorecard valiant chase, this final reminded us why cricket’s the gentleman’s game—unpredictable, emotional, unifying. Whether you’re a die-hard RCB fan celebrating or a PBKS supporter nursing wounds, hats off to both teams. They gave us memories that’ll last lifetimes.
