Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Punjab Kings Timeline

Royal Challengers Bengaluru had reached three IPL finals before 2025 — and lost every single one. On June 3, 2025, that streak finally ended when RCB held off Punjab Kings by six runs at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad to claim the franchise’s maiden title. The road there ran through a venue change, a mid-season suspension, and weeks of rain anxiety. This is the full story.

Head-to-Head Matches: 37 · RCB Wins: 19 · PBKS Wins: 18 · IPL 2025 Final Result: RCB won by 6 runs · PBKS Highest Score vs RCB: 184/7

Why are RCB vs PBKS delayed today?

The IPL 2025 final originally had a clear date and venue. That plan unraveled within weeks.

Rain delays and venue changes

• The final was first scheduled for May 25, 2025 at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, which was poised to host its third IPL final after 2013 and 2015
• The 2025 season itself faced an unprecedented disruption: the BCCI suspended play on May 9, 2025 following the 2025 India-Pakistan crisis, and matches did not resume until May 17, 2025
• These cascading delays pushed the final from Eden Gardens to Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, with the match now set for June 3, 2025
• The venue swap gave organizers a larger stadium with better infrastructure to absorb weather contingencies

Weather forecast impact

• AccuWeather forecast predicted thunderstorms for June 3, 2025 in Ahmedabad, with a 62% probability of precipitation
• The daytime temperature was expected to reach 38°C, with a RealFeel of 41°C — conditions that also risked disrupting play
• To manage delays, the BCCI built in a two-hour grace period, allowing play to continue until 11:56 PM IST if needed
• A reserve day on June 4, 2025 stood ready as a fallback, ensuring the match could not be washed out entirely

The weather uncertainty added genuine tension to an already disrupted season, making the final’s completion feel like a minor miracle for fans who had watched the calendar unravel.

Who won today, PBKS or RCB?

Punjab Kings won the toss and elected to field first, but it was RCB who walked away with the trophy.

TATA IPL 2025 final match report

• Royal Challengers Bengaluru posted 190/9 in their 20 overs
• Punjab Kings responded with 184/7 in their 20 overs — falling just six runs short
• Rajat Patidar captained RCB in the final, while Shreyas Iyer led PBKS
• The match was the 74th and decisive encounter of the 18th IPL season

Scorecard summary

This was RCB’s maiden IPL trophy after 18 years of competition, having been runners-up in 2009, 2011, and 2016. For PBKS, it marked a second final appearance — their previous came in 2014 when they also finished as runners-up.

How many times did RCB beat PBKS?

Across all IPL encounters, RCB hold a razor-thin advantage over PBKS.

Overall head-to-head stats

• In 37 total IPL matches between the sides, RCB have won 19 and PBKS have won 18
• That one-win margin has shifted back and forth over 18 seasons of the tournament
• PBKS had previously reached a final in 2014; RCB reached finals in 2009, 2011, and 2016 before their 2025 triumph

Recent match results

• RCB and PBKS met multiple times during the league stage of IPL 2025 before their final showdown
• The final encounter was the closest finish between the two sides, decided by just six runs
• PBKS posted their highest score against RCB in the final: 184/7

The head-to-head record illustrates a genuine rivalry: two franchises of similar stature, separated by margins thin enough that any encounter could tip either way.

What if rain washes out in IPL final?

The BCCI had prepared layered contingencies so the championship could not be lost to weather alone.

Reserve day rules

• A reserve day was scheduled for June 4, 2025 at Narendra Modi Stadium
• The match had a two-hour grace period, meaning play could extend until 11:56 PM IST on June 3 before the reserve day would be activated
• If play was possible even in a reduced capacity on June 3, the reserve day would not be needed

Points allocation

• If the final could not be completed on either June 3 or June 4, the team that finished higher on the points table would be declared champions
• PBKS ended the league stage at the top of the table with nine wins from 14 matches, meaning a washout would have handed them the title
• This rule favouring league-stage finishers has been standard BCCI policy for IPL finals when no play is possible

RCB vs PBKS Head-to-Head Records & Stats

Thirty-seven matches, two dynasties, and one trophy that had evaded RCB for nearly two decades.

Highest team totals

Both records were set in the same match, making the 2025 final the highest-scoring encounter between these rivals.

Key player performances

• Shashank Singh top-scored for PBKS with 61 off 30 deliveries in the final — a blistering cameo that nearly pulled off a chase
• Jos Inglis contributed a half-century during PBKS’s league-stage campaign
• PBKS’s league-stage position was powered by consistent performances across their batting lineup
• RCB’s total of 190/9 proved sufficient, showing the value of their bowlers under pressure

The rivalry’s statistics tell a story of near-parity. RCB hold the advantage by the smallest of margins, yet PBKS proved throughout 2025 they have the firepower to challenge anyone on their day.

For RCB fans, June 3, 2025 marked the end of a long and often painful wait. For PBKS supporters, the result was another chapter of near-misses — a league-stage champion undone by six runs on the biggest stage. The rivalry is far from over; the next chapter is already scheduled.