Image: The history of Royal Challengers Bengaluru team's playing in their three last IPL finals / © Indian Premier League Official Website
After 17 years of chasing that elusive IPL trophy, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are back in the finals in their 18th season, their first shot since 2016. They’re hungry to finally lift the cup. In Qualifier 1 on May 29, 2025, at New Chandigarh, RCB crushed Punjab Kings (PBKS) by 8 wickets with 60 balls left, the biggest playoff win by balls remaining in IPL history. PBKS chose to bat but imploded to 101 in 14.1 overs. Prabhsimran Singh’s quick 18 off 10 (2×4, 1×6) gave them a spark, but RCB’s bowlers took over.
Josh Hazlewood’s 3/21, including Shreyas Iyer’s 2 off 3, and Suyash Sharma’s 3/17, dismissing Marcus Stoinis (26 off 17), sparked a collapse. Yash Dayal’s 2/26 and Romario Shepherd’s 1/5 wrapped it up, with only Azmatullah Omarzai’s 18 off 12 nudging PBKS past 100. Their powerplay was a shaky 48/4, and the top five’s measly 39 runs ranked among the worst in playoff history. Chasing 102, RCB made it look easy, racing to 106/2 in 10 overs. Phil Salt was unstoppable, smashing an unbeaten 56 off 27 (6×4, 3×6) with a 23-ball fifty. He and Mayank Agarwal (19 off 13) put on a 50-run stand to kill the chase.
Virat Kohli fell for 12 off 12 to Kyle Jamieson (1/27), but Rajat Patidar’s 15 not out off 8, capped with a six, sealed the deal. PBKS’s bowlers, like Arshdeep Singh (0/20), had no answer to RCB’s blazing 10.60 run rate. Now, with a spot in the final, RCB are buzzing with hope. They’ve got the form, the fire, and the fans behind them to finally end their title drought and make history.
For 17 years, Royal Challengers Bengaluru have chased an IPL title, reaching the finals in 2009, 2011, and 2016, each time with a different captain. But heartbreak struck every time, with no trophy to show for it. The wait haunts RCB fans, yet the team keeps pushing, desperate to finally claim that elusive first championship.
The IPL final on May 24, 2009, at Johannesburg’s New Wanderers Stadium was a real nail-biter! Deccan Chargers just managed to pip Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by 6 runs in one of the tightest finals ever. Deccan batted first, scraping together 143/6 in their 20 overs. Herschelle Gibbs held it all together with a gritty 53 not out off 48 balls, hitting 3 fours and 2 sixes. Andrew Symonds smashed a quick 33 off 21 with 4 fours and a six, and Rohit Sharma chipped in with 24 off 23. But RCB’s Anil Kumble was unreal, grabbing 4 wickets for just 16 runs, including Adam Gilchrist for a duck! Vinay Kumar’s 2/30 helped keep Deccan’s score within reach, even after a solid 31/2 in the powerplay.
Chasing 144, RCB looked like they had it in the bag at one point. They stumbled early, losing Jacques Kallis (15 off 17) and Manish Pandey (4 off 8) to sit at 36/2 after the powerplay. But Roelof van der Merwe came in swinging, blasting 32 off 21 with a four and 3 sixes, while Rahul Dravid’s steady 9 off 13 kept things calm. By the 10th over, RCB were 69/3, and with Ross Taylor’s 27 off 20 (3 fours, 1 six) and Virat Kohli’s 7 off 8, they were cruising at 99/4 after 14 overs. Just 45 runs needed off 36 balls—RCB fans were buzzing!
Then, Deccan’s bowlers flipped the game. Symonds struck gold in the 15th over, knocking over Taylor and Kohli, leaving RCB wobbling at 99/6. Pragyan Ojha’s clever 3/28 got rid of van der Merwe and Praveen Kumar (2 off 3), while Harmeet Singh’s 2/23 sent Dravid and Mark Boucher (5 off 6) packing. RCB crashed to 110/8. Robin Uthappa fought with 17 not out off 15, but requiring 15 in the last over was too much. Ryan Harris’ tight 1/34, giving up only 8 runs in the 19th, shut the door. RCB ended at 137/9, so close yet so far. Kumble’s epic bowling won him Player of the Match, but Symonds’ all-round spark and Gibbs’ cool head gave Deccan their first IPL trophy.
On May 28, 2011, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) outclassed Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the IPL final at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium, winning by a hefty 58 runs. RCB had a fantastic season, leading the league with 9 wins and 19 points, but they were no match for CSK’s brilliance and missed their chance at a first IPL title. CSK batted first, racking up an imposing 205/5 in 20 overs. Murali Vijay’s blazing 95 off 52 balls (4×4, 6×6) and Michael Hussey’s steady 63 off 45 (3×4, 3×6) set the stage with a massive 159-run opening stand in 14.5 overs, including a powerplay of 56/0.
Vijay hit 50 in 29 balls, Hussey in 40, while MS Dhoni’s quick 22 off 13 (2×6) and Dwayne Bravo’s 6 off 1 took CSK past 200. RCB’s bowlers struggled, with Sreenath Aravind’s 2/39 and Chris Gayle’s 2/34 as their best, and only Zaheer Khan’s 0/30 kept things tight. Chasing 206, RCB’s batting fell apart, limping to 147/8 against CSK’s sharp bowling. Ravichandran Ashwin struck early, grabbing 3/16, including dismissing Chris Gayle for a duck off 3 balls and Mayank Agarwal for 10 off 5, leaving RCB reeling at 16/2 in 2.3 overs.
Virat Kohli’s 35 off 32 (1×4, 1×6) and AB de Villiers’ 18 off 12 tried to fight back, but Shadab Jakati’s 2/21 and Suresh Raina’s 1/39 crushed their middle order, dropping them to 70/6 by the 10th over. Saurabh Tiwary’s unbeaten 42 off 34 (1×4, 3×6) and Zaheer Khan’s 21 off 21 weren’t enough. Doug Bollinger (1/28) and Bravo (1/15) closed the door. Vijay’s stunning knock earned him Player of the Match, and Ashwin’s early blows helped CSK secure their second IPL title, leaving RCB shell-shocked.
The IPL 2016 final on May 29 at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium was a gut-wrenching moment for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) fans. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) snatched an 8-run win in a nail-biter, denying RCB their first IPL title despite a stellar season led by Virat Kohli’s incredible 973 runs. SRH, batting first, smashed 208/7, with David Warner’s fiery 69 off 38 (8×4, 3×6) setting the pace. Shikhar Dhawan’s 28 off 25 and Yuvraj Singh’s 38 off 23 kept things steady, while Ben Cutting’s unbeaten 39 off 15 (3×4, 4×6) blasted them past 200. Chris Jordan’s 3/45 and Sreenath Aravind’s 2/30 fought back for RCB, but Shane Watson’s expensive 0/61 hurt.
Chasing 209, RCB roared to 114/1 in 10.3 overs, powered by Chris Gayle’s explosive 76 off 38 (4×4, 8×6) and Kohli’s 54 off 35 (5×4, 2×6). Their 100-run stand in 54 balls had fans dreaming. But Cutting’s 2/35, taking out Gayle and KL Rahul (11 off 9), and Barinder Sran’s 1/41, dismissing Kohli, flipped the game. AB de Villiers’ 5 off 6 and Watson’s 11 off 9, removed by Bipul Sharma (1/17) and Mustafizur Rahman (1/37), left RCB reeling at 164/5 in 16.3 overs. Needing 45 off 21, Sachin Baby’s 18 not out off 10 and Stuart Binny’s 9 off 7 fell short, ending at 200/7. Cutting’s all-round brilliance earned him Player of the Match, and Warner’s captaincy gave SRH their first IPL crown, leaving RCB heartbroken.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have faced heartbreak in their three IPL finals—losing by 6 runs in 2009, 58 runs in 2011, and 8 runs in 2016—but now, in 2025, they’re poised for their first title. Their dominant 8-wicket win over Punjab Kings in Qualifier 1, chasing 102 in 10 overs, showcased their strength. Phil Salt’s unbeaten 56 off 27 lit up the chase, while Josh Hazlewood’s 3/21 and Suyash Sharma’s 3/17 dismantled PBKS.
With nine different players earning Player of the Match awards this season, RCB’s depth shines. Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, and Suyash are bowling brilliantly, while Kohli, Salt, and other batters are in top form. Though their final opponent is unset, RCB’s red-hot squad and Bengaluru’s electric crowd give them a golden shot to end their 18-year title wait.