From perennial underachievers to champions: How RCB shed their old identity to win their first IPL title

For years, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) epitomised batting extravagance. With luminaries such as Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers lighting up the line-up, they dazzled fans and dominated highlight reels — almost always with the bat. But for all the thunderous sixes and 200-plus totals, one thing persistently eluded them — the (Indian Premier League) IPL trophy. Their Achilles’ heel was painfully familiar — a bowling unit that, more often than not, crumbled when the stakes were highest.

In 2025, the narrative changed.

This season, RCB’s bowlers — long cast as supporting actors — stepped forward to become the architects of their long-awaited triumph. They weren’t merely reliable; they were resounding. A franchise that had spent 17 seasons attempting to bat its way to silverware finally bowled its way there.

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Across 15 matches in IPL 2025, RCB’s attack claimed 94 wickets at an overall economy rate of 9.24 — the second-best in the competition behind Mumbai Indians’ 8.89 — consistently denying opposition batters the rhythm they so desperately sought. In a tournament where run-scoring reached unprecedented heights, Bengaluru’s bowlers stood apart for their discipline, depth and well-drilled plans tailored to opposition line-ups.

How bowlers helped RCB win IPL 2025

Josh Hazlewood was the silent assassin — clinical, precise, unflappable. His 22 wickets in just 12 appearances came at an economy rate under nine. His spell in Qualifier 1 — 3 for 21 — was a masterclass in pressure bowling, removing Josh Inglis and Shreyas Iyer just as Punjab Kings seemed poised to launch. In the final, he struck early again, dismantling a dangerous PBKS opening stand and setting the tone inside the powerplay.

Then there was Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the seasoned campaigner in a young man’s league. He may have taken 17 wickets in 14 games, but it was his economy, control and experience — particularly in the powerplay and death overs — that made him indispensable. In the final, his 17th over, where he dismissed Nehal Wadhera and Marcus Stoinis, helped swing the contest decisively.

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Yash Dayal, once known for an infamous over in 2023, delivered a season of redemption built on cutters, control and character. He took 13 wickets in 15 matches, often operating in the middle overs, where he regularly throttled opposition momentum with tight lines and nerveless execution.

Time and again Romario Shepherd played his part too, chipping in at key moments. His dismissal of the well-set Iyer in the final came just as Punjab threatened to turn the tide. Even Nuwan Thushara, who played just once — against Lucknow Super Giants — showed enough to suggest he could be a valuable asset going forward in the future.

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Spin, too, proved vital. Krunal Pandya, in his maiden season for RCB, emerged as their standout slow bowler. While he was brought in more for his experience than flamboyance, his value quickly became apparent. His spell in the final — 4-0-17-2 — stifled the chase and earned him the Player of the Match award. Yet his impact stretched across the campaign. From the season opener against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens, Krunal consistently applied pressure in the middle overs. He finished with 17 wickets at an economy of 8.23 — a testament to his reliability.

Then there was Suyash Sharma — RCB’s tactical wildcard from the mega auction. Primarily deployed against right-heavy line-ups, Suyash collected eight wickets at an economy rate of 8.84. Considering RCB played seven matches at the Chinnaswamy — a notorious graveyard for bowlers — those numbers were particularly impressive. He wasn’t just about wickets; he disrupted rhythm, delivering short spells that turned matches on their heads.

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What made RCB’s bowling unit special wasn’t just individual brilliance but the collective synergy. Different players stepped up on different nights, yet the system held firm — a rare phenomenon in a format so often shaped by chaos.

RCB rewarded for proactiveness and clarity

In previous years, RCB’s gameplans often appeared reactive, even haphazard. This year, they were proactive, composed and methodical — especially with the ball. For once, the team’s identity wasn’t built on batting fireworks but on bowling clarity and cohesion.

In a league addicted to six-hitting and scoreboard carnage, RCB reminded everyone that T20 glory can still be fashioned at 135 kph, with a scrambled seam or a subtle change of pace.

Seventeen years of heartbreak, three lost finals, countless memes — all laid to rest not with a last-ball six, but with a pair of dot balls from Hazlewood in the final over, followed by fireworks that lit up the Bengaluru sky.

The bat made them beloved. But in 2025, the ball made them champions.