After 18 years of waiting, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have finally clinched their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title, defeating Punjab Kings (PBKS) in a thrilling final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. The victory sparked celebrations across the nation, with Bollywood and South Indian celebrities taking to social media to congratulate Virat Kohli and his team.
The hashtag #EeSalaCupNamde, a phrase synonymous with RCB's fan base, immediately began trending as the team secured victory. The phrase, meaning "This year, the cup is ours," has been a rallying cry for fans who have stuck with the team through thick and thin.
Among the first to congratulate the team was Telugu superstar Allu Arjun, who wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “THE WAIT IS OVER . 'Ee sala cup namde!' At last! We've been waiting for this day for 18 years. A big, big congratulations to RCB!” Allu Arjun also shared a video of his son, Ayaan, getting emotional and pouring water on his head in celebration of RCB's victory. He mentioned that Kohli was the reason Ayaan got interested in cricket.
Rashmika Mandanna, another prominent actress and self-proclaimed RCB loyalist, also expressed her joy on social media. She posted a picture of the RCB players with the caption, "It smells like victory in here #RCB." In the past, Rashmika had revealed in a live video that RCB was her favorite IPL team and that she was a big fan of Virat Kohli.
Actor Vijay Deverakonda shared his excitement, posting, "Congratulations to @RCBTweets, all RCB fans ❤️ you have waited with so much energy and passion and love. It's a happy happy moment to see."
Sonu Sood also joined the chorus of congratulatory messages, sharing pictures of Kohli and other team members from the ground, captioned “RCB!!! Mehnat ka phal meetha hota hai – finally! @virat.kohli bhai & team, heartily congratulations. Punjab – tough luck, played with heart and character! Respect to both sides! ❤️ #RCB #IPL2025 @royalchallengers.bengaluru @krunalpandya_official.”
The win was particularly emotional for Virat Kohli, who has been with RCB since the inaugural IPL season in 2008. "This win is as much for the fans as it is for the team. It's been 18 long years. I've given this team my youth, prime and experience," Kohli said in a post-match interview. "I've tried to win it every season, gave it everything I have. To finally have it is an unbelievable feeling. Never thought this day would come, I was overcome with emotion after the last ball was bowled. Gave each and every ounce of my energy and it's an amazing feeling."
Kohli, who relinquished captaincy at the end of the 2021 season, added that winning the IPL with RCB was more special than any other trophy he had won. “It's right up there, if I have to be honest. As I said, I've given everything to the team for the last 18 years. I've stayed loyal to this team, no matter what. I stood with them (fans and team). They stood behind me. I always dreamt of winning this with them. This is far more special than winning it with anyone else,”
RCB's victory was not just a win for the team and its players but also for the countless fans who have supported them through the years. The celebrations are expected to continue for days to come, as the RCB faithful finally get to celebrate their team's long-awaited triumph.
Rajat Patidar, who lifted the trophy as captain, marked a defining moment not just for the franchise but also for Virat Kohli, who finally got his hands on the elusive IPL crown after 18 loyal years with the team.
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru team will receive ₹20 crore as the winner's prize.
