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It was a majestic evening at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad as Royal Challengers Bengaluru ended their trophy drought by defeating Punjab Kings in the IPL 2025 final by six runs. Those watching the match saw Virat Kohli break down during the last over, as he experienced a quick flashback of all the struggles and heartbreaks with the franchise over the past 18 seasons. With every Josh Hazlewood delivery in the 20th over, Kohli struggled to hold back his emotions.
After sealing the win, the RCB players jumped, hugged, cried, and danced, rejoicing in a historic moment for the franchise. Not only was Kohli teary-eyed in the world’s largest cricket stadium, but every fan inside the venue, around 100,000 supporters for the grand finale, felt the same as the RCB legend. Fans in the stands threw RCB flags into the air after the win, hugged those around them, likely strangers, and shed tears as the franchise claimed their first trophy. Hardly a few left their seats before RCB lifted the trophy.
The atmosphere in Ahmedabad was surreal on June 3. People traveled from across the country, some even from abroad, to witness history. Although the match was scheduled to start at 7:30 PM, fans began trickling in as early as 12 noon. RCB jerseys emblazoned with “18 Virat” dominated the streets, along with caps, flags, placards, and even UPI scanners wishing RCB good luck. While a few Punjab Kings fans and jerseys were present, one had to focus intently to spot them amid the RCB rush.
As passionate and enthusiastic as RCB fans have been over the years, unwaveringly supporting the franchise and its players, it felt like victory was “written in the stars.” Among the RCB fans lucky enough to secure tickets to the summit clash, none showed any nerves. There was confidence, belief, and trust that it will be “Ee Sala Cup Namde” (This year, the cup is ours). Having covered several IPL finals, I’ve seen fans, regardless of their team’s form, display some nervousness or anxiety ahead of the big game. Yet, somehow, RCB fans knew that IPL Season 18 belonged to “Number 18.”
Also Read: RCB Victory Parade: Full Schedule of Celebration in Bengaluru for the IPL 2025 Champions
By 3 PM, the streets were packed with a sea of red, reminiscent of November 19, 2023, the ODI World Cup Final between India and Australia, where a sea of blue took over the stadium. This crowd, however, felt endless. Despite a brief spell of rain, fans continued queuing outside the stadium.
RCB were invited to bat first, and the stands, dominated by RCB’s red, cheered every ball. Every run scored and every boundary smashed was met with massive roars. Chants of “RCB, RCB” broke out regularly. After each wicket, there was a brief silence, but the fans quickly resumed their support. It was not a night for RCB fans to stay quiet. Even when Punjab Kings controlled the first half of the chase, fans cheered the bowlers at the top of their voices. If the RCB bowlers deserve credit for defending the lowest total in Ahmedabad this season, the fans deserve credit for never losing hope.
Despite straining their voices after shouting for half a day for their beloved RCB, thousands lined the streets in front of the team hotel to give them a rousing welcome. RCB players partied hard in the night, but the fans partied harder. The evening belonged to them as much as it did to the players. It was perhaps the best evening in IPL history in terms of atmosphere and celebrations. Ahmedabad exceeded expectations. RCB fans exceeded expectations. And the party has just begun. It will now move from Ahmedabad to Bengaluru, where RCB fans will light up the streets to welcome the history-makers.
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