After years of heartbreak and near-misses, Royal Challengers Bengaluru finally lifted their maiden IPL trophy in Ahmedabad. They edged past Punjab Kings by six runs to win the 2025 final. The victory ended an 18-year wait, making the moment even more powerful for players and fans.

Once the match ended, Virat Kohli was visibly emotional. He broke into tears and went straight to hug AB de Villiers, his longtime teammate and close friend. Kohli later said, “What ABD has done for the franchise is tremendous. I told him, ‘This win is as much yours as it is ours.’”

Kohli also pointed out that even though de Villiers retired four years ago, he still holds the most Player of the Match awards in RCB’s history. “He deserves to be on the podium, lifting the cup,” Kohli said, showing how deep de Villiers’ influence runs through the team.

RCB batted first and posted 190 runs on the board. Kohli scored 43 from 35 balls, though he struggled to find rhythm early on. The finishing push came from Jitesh Sharma and Romario Shepherd.

Defending the total, RCB’s bowlers performed under pressure. Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Krunal Pandya led the effort and restricted Punjab Kings, securing a narrow 6-run win and the long-awaited title.

The post-match scenes were unforgettable. Along with Kohli, both AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle stood together and shouted the iconic chant: “Ee Sala Cup Namdu.”

Kohli, Gayle and AB saying E sala Cup Namdu 😭 This really feels like a dream

— Vishnu (@itsvishnu17) June 3, 2025

Social media lit up instantly. One user wrote, “Kohli, Gayle and AB saying Ee Sala Cup Namdu — this really feels like a dream.” Another pointed out, “AB de Villiers was also there — 18 years...” 

Ab de villers was also there 🥺 💗 18 years....... 😭

— Anushka (@NushAghase7) June 3, 2025

While one fan highlighted, “The fact that AB De Villiers came out of the commentary box just to root for RCB.”

For fans, this was more than a win — it was a full-circle moment shared by legends who carried RCB through highs and lows.

RCB’s first-ever title, shared by Kohli, AB, and Gayle, gave fans closure — 18 years later, the dream was finally real.