RCB’s Fab Five: Breaking Down the Heroes Behind the 2025 IPL Victory

After several seasons of waiting with pain and agony, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) delivered a stunning win by conquering the IPL 2025 title. Yes, it happened! Yet, it was not just a win, it was redemption and a true storybook ending. Through the pure will and desire of Virat Kohli and Krunal Pandya’s rise to an even bigger surprise match-win, the absolute marvel in this championship run is that it was a total team effort, with some out-of-the-ordinary performances. Here are the five difference makers that finally got RCB their championship!

Virat Kohli: The King Who Wouldn’t Quit 

For a person who has held almost every batting record in IPL history, the only thing that was missing from his trophy cabinet was the trophy. Well, not anymore. Recently, Kohli impressed in IPL 2025 while racking up 657 runs in 15 innings at a strike rate of 144.71. The volumes of runs weren’t the only satisfying aspect of Kohli’s performance, but the timing, consistency, and leadership aspects were.

He scored eight half-centuries, the ability to make four in a row. In the final, while other batters were trying to go hard, Kohli made 43 off 35. It may not have won the applause, but it was the glue that held that innings together. He wasn’t just scoring runs. The king came for his crown this year, and finally, he has it.

Also read:- 4 First-Timer IPL Captains Who Turned Debuts Into Championship Glory

Krunal Pandya: The Unexpected MVP 

Silencing the doubters. Krunal Pandya did not enter this season with the most spectacular stats, but came away as one of RCB’s most dependable match-winners. The left-arm spinner finished the season with 17 wickets in 15 innings for an economy of 8.23—not bad for someone seen as mostly a utility player.

But Krunal had his biggest performances in the biggest moments. In the finals, he bowled a scrappy 2 for 17, getting a key grip on PBKS, just they seemed to be crawling back into the match. And remember that 73 against Delhi Capitals, a knock that was sending the message “I’m not only a bowler.” This was Krunal at his best – stylish, calm, and a key piece to RCB’s run.

Josh Hazlewood: The Quiet Assassin 

If RCB’s campaign was a song, Josh Hazlewood was the metronome keeping tempo on the whole thing. He played only 12 out of 14 matches, but still ended with 22 wickets, averaging just 17.54.

What made Hazlewood special was not the overall wickets – it was the timing. Whether it was the match-winning 3-21 in Qualifier 1 or the brilliant 4-33 against Rajasthan Royals, he produced the goods when it mattered most.

Phil Salt: The Sledgehammer Opener 

You recognize a batter’s dangerousness when fans use the powerplays to simply watch him. Phil Salt ultimately finished with 405 runs in 13 innings, but it was the 175.98 strike rate that lit up stadiums all across India.

His knock of 65 off 33 in Jaipur against RR and 56 against PBKS in Qualifier 1 were Salt-in-the-groove of unapologetically aggressive and unfiltered entertainment value. Sure, Salt was not consistent in every single match, but when he clicked, RCB rode the tailwind right to victory.

Jitesh Sharma: The Impact Finisher 

Jitesh Sharma was usually unsung but was never unfulfilled. Jitesh Sharma was the x-factor for RCB. He scored 261 runs in 11 innings at a strike rate of 176.35; that is not great, that is phenomenal. Jitesh is the player you want at the crease when the chase is tight, and the last over is a grind.

His 85 off 33 balls against LSG was almost enough to lock RCB into that top two. Even in the final, his quickfire 24 off 10 balls helped RCB to generate those extra runs that ended up making the difference.

So, what do you think? Is this the introduction of a new era for RCB or simply the happy ending to a long-running story? Let us know in the comments!