On Tuesday, June 3, 2025 saw the moment that every RCB fan had been awaiting: Given that the RCB franchise was created in 2008, Virat Kohli, the crux of the brand, lifted the IPL trophy for the very first time after 18 long seasons of heartbreaks, near-misses, and undying loyalty towards the franchise.
Kohli’s Emotional Instagram Post
Right after the win, Virat Kohli took to Instagram to pour his heart out:
“This team made the dream possible, a season I’ll never ever forget.
This one is for the fans who never left our side. For every drop of sweat, every bit of belief, every setback.
As far as the IPL trophy is concerned—you’ve made me wait 18 years, my friend, but it’s been worth it.”
His feelings are deep. Across the globe, fans got emotional as Kohli’s journey with RCB finally found its perfect ending, or you can say “Fairytale Ending”.
The Grand Finale: RCB vs PBKS
Taking the responsibility of the run-chase opener against Punjab Kings, Kohli top-scored with a steady 43 off 35 balls as RCB posted 190/9. The bowlers held their nerve, with Krunal Pandya doing the damage with 2/17 and Josh Hazlewood finishing off the last over calmly to win by 6 runs.
Shashank Singh stole the show by 61 for PBKS, however, it just wasn’t enough.
People across the world noticed a mix of joy, relief, and pure emotion as Kohli collapsed to the ground. He appreciated teammates, coaches and shared a memorable moment with Ravi Shastri, now part of the RCB support staff.
IPL 2025: Full Awards List & Prize Money
Here’s a complete breakdown of who won what in IPL 2025, including cash rewards:
Cash Prizes
| Title | Cash Prize |
| IPL 2025 Winner (RCB) | ₹20 Crores |
| Runner-Up (PBKS) | ₹13 Crores |
| Qualifier Winner | ₹7 Crores |
| Eliminator Winner | ₹6.5Crores |
| Orange Cap | ₹10 Lakhs |
| Purple Cap | ₹10 Lakhs |
| Most Valuable Player | ₹10 Lakhs |
| Emerging Player | ₹20 Lakhs |
| Super Striker | ₹10 Lakhs |
| Maximum Sixes | ₹10 Lakhs |
| Game Changer | ₹10 Lakhs |
Award Winners
| Award | Winner |
| IPL 2025 Champions | Royal Challengers Bengaluru |
| Runner-Up | Punjab Kings |
| Final Player of the Match | Krunal Pandya |
| Final Striker of the Match | Jitesh Sharma |
| Most Dot Balls (Season) | Mohammed Sira |
| Most Sixes (Super Striker) | Nicholas Pooran |
| Emerging Player | Sai Sudharsan |
| Most Valuable Player | Suryakumar Yadav |
| Purple Cap (Most Wickets) | Prasidh Krishna (25 wickets) |
| Orange Cap (Most Runs) | Sai Sudharsan (759 runs) |
| Perfect Catch of the Season | Kamindu Mendis |
| Fair Play Award | Chennai Super Kings |
| Best Pitch & Ground | Delhi (DDCA) |
Final Thoughts
RCB’s title win wasn’t just a victory—it was a tribute to loyalty, resilience, and belief. For Virat Kohli, it meant the world. For fans, it was long overdue. And for the IPL, it marked the end of an era—an 18-year wait finally fulfilled.
