RCB Wins First IPL Title After 18 Years

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) won their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title after 18 years, defeating Punjab Kings by six runs in a thrilling final held in Ahmedabad. Krunal Pandya was named Player of the Match for his 2/17 bowling figures, becoming the first player to win this honor twice in IPL finals. His crucial wickets of Prabhsimran Singh and Josh Inglis were seen as turning points in the game. Virat Kohli emotionally dedicated the historic victory to RCB fans and former teammate AB de Villiers, ending the team's reputation as perennial underachievers. The win also marked the ninth IPL trophy for the Pandya family, with Hardik Pandya publicly expressing his pride. The Election Commission of India leveraged the high-profile event to promote youth voter registration.