RCB wins the IPL title for the first time.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have become the IPL champions for the first time after defeating Punjab Kings.

In the final held at Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad today, RCB beat Punjab by 6 runs to win their first-ever IPL title in the 18-year history of the league.

Chasing a target of 191 runs, Punjab could only manage 184 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in their allotted 20 overs.

Punjab’s Shashank Singh top-scored with 61 runs off 30 balls, hitting 3 fours and 6 sixes. English contributed 39 runs off 23 balls with 1 four and 4 sixes.

Captain Shreyas Iyer was dismissed for just 1 run on the second ball he faced. Opener Priyansh Arya scored 24, Prabhsimran Singh added 26, and Nehal Wadhera chipped in with 15 runs.

For RCB, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Krunal Pandya took 2 wickets each, while Romario Shepherd, Josh Hazlewood, and Yash Dayal claimed 1 wicket apiece.

Earlier, Punjab had won the toss and elected to bowl first. Batting first, RCB posted 190 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in their allotted 20 overs.

Former RCB captain Virat Kohli top-scored with 43 runs off 35 balls, including 3 boundaries. Captain Rajat Patidar contributed 26 runs off 16 balls with 1 four and 2 sixes. Mayank Agarwal added 24 runs off 18 balls with 2 fours and 1 six.

Opener Phil Salt scored 16 off 9 balls, Liam Livingstone made 25 off 15, Jitesh Sharma smashed 24 off 10, and Romario Shepherd was dismissed for 17.

For Punjab, Kyle Jamieson and Arshdeep Singh took 3 wickets each, while Azmatullah Omarzai, Vijay Kumar Vaishakh, and Yuzvendra Chahal picked up 1 wicket each.

In the league stage, Punjab had finished first and RCB second. These two teams faced off in Qualifier 1, where RCB defeated Punjab to reach the final. Punjab then beat Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2 to set up a rematch with RCB in the final.

RCB has become the eighth team to win the IPL title. They clinched the championship on their fourth attempt.

Previously, RCB had lost three finals — in 2009 to Deccan Chargers by 6 runs, in 2011 to Chennai Super Kings, and in 2016 to Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Punjab, meanwhile, ended up as runners-up for the second time. Their first final appearance was in 2014, where they were defeated by Kolkata Knight Riders.