Despite a promising start, Bengaluru’s inability to finish strong exposes deep-rooted flaws that no fanfare can fix
It was supposed to be the night. The night when Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) finally buried their decade-long demons and lifted their maiden IPL trophy. Instead, it turned into another classic RCB performance—laced with promise, scattered brilliance, and a finish that screamed unfulfilled potential. Posting 190/9 in a high-stakes final at Ahmedabad, on a pitch where 200 was not just par but practically mandatory, RCB once again chose the wrong night to misfire.
Let’s call it what it is: not just a missed opportunity, but a repeated pattern.
RCB's 190: Not Enough, Not Surprising
In a final where pressure was as thick as the Ahmedabad heat (38°C with 66% rain forecast earlier in the day), RCB buckled not under the weather, but under their own weight of expectations. Virat Kohli, the eternal torchbearer of RCB’s elusive dream, played a laborious 43 off 35 balls—a knock that neither anchored nor accelerated. For a team known for its batting firepower, it was a strangely timid approach.
Kyle Jamieson (3/48) and Arshdeep Singh (3/40) dismantled RCB’s middle and lower order with surgical precision. At one point, a 200+ total looked achievable, even probable. But familiar cracks began to appear in the final five overs. From 150/4 in the 16th, they crawled to 190/9—a meltdown that perfectly summed up RCB's night.
Kohli’s Legacy Under the Scanner
Let’s talk about the elephant in the stadium: Virat Kohli’s big-match performances. Yes, he’s the leading run-scorer. Yes, he’s the heartbeat of RCB. But when it comes to knockout games, his innings often lack the kind of authority one expects from a player of his stature. In this final, with the game calling for a strike rate north of 150, Kohli hovered around 120, struggling to rotate strike, let alone find boundaries.
His 43 might look respectable on paper, but on a pitch where 200+ is standard and bowlers are routinely punished, it was a momentum killer.
Glamour vs Grit: The RCB Dilemma
No team does branding better than RCB. From grand opening ceremonies to celebrity appearances (hello, Anushka Sharma) and emotional interviews, the narrative is always powerful. But for a side with such infrastructure and fanbase, their on-field results remain astonishingly underwhelming.
RCB’s problems aren’t about talent—they’re about temperament. They start well, like they did reaching 59/1 in the powerplay. But as the innings progresses, confusion sets in: aggression or consolidation? Calculated risk or safety-first? The result is always the same—mediocrity in critical moments.
Punjab Kings Stay Cool, Stay Sharp
On the other hand, Punjab Kings—often underrated, often inconsistent—looked like the more focused side. Shreyas Iyer’s decision to bowl first paid off handsomely, as his bowlers stuck to disciplined lines and used RCB’s indecision against them. Jamieson’s bounce, Arshdeep’s variations, and Chahal’s guile were all masterfully employed.
It’s ironic that a team that entered the final as the so-called underdog displayed more composure than a franchise that’s been chasing the title dream since the inception of the IPL.
Same Script, Different Season
For RCB fans, this one stings. Again. After all the build-up, after all the belief, and after one of their better seasons, the result was all too familiar. Another final, another heartbreak, another round of "maybe next year."
If anything, this game should be a wake-up call. RCB doesn't need more celebrity glamour or Instagram reels—they need introspection. Tactical clarity, match-temperament, and ruthlessness in crunch moments are missing pieces in their puzzle. Until those are addressed, RCB’s story will continue to be one of squandered chances and sentimental speeches.
Conclusion:
The 2025 IPL Final didn’t just crown a winner—it exposed a perennial contender. RCB’s inability to cross 200 in a final wasn’t just a tactical error; it was symbolic of a team still haunted by its past. Unless there’s a cultural shift inside the RCB camp, the trophy might remain just out of reach. And for the fans who bleed red and gold, that’s a heartbreak that’s becoming all too familiar.