After years of heartbreaks, memes, and near misses, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) finally ended their title drought by winning the IPL 2025 final against Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Tuesday, June 3. Their maiden IPL title, 18 seasons in the making, brought joy and relief to millions of fans who had stood by the team through its highs and lows.
Held at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the nail-biting final unfolded in front of a roaring live crowd and an even larger digital audience across India. According to viewership data reported by Moneycontrol, the match, streamed on the Jio Hotstar OTT platform, recorded over 67.8 crore total views — the highest ever for an IPL match, surpassing even the India-Pakistan clash from the ICC Championship earlier this year.
The viewer surge told a story of its own.
The match opened with a strong 4.3 crore views, spurred on by Phil Salt’s power-hitting for RCB. When PBKS skipper Shreyas Iyer dismissed Salt, interest surged to 11 crore views by the 11th over. The dismissal of Virat Kohli at 43 further intensified the drama, pushing views to 26.5 crore. Momentum briefly shifted with Jitesh Sharma’s strong batting, taking RCB to a respectable 190 in 20 overs — viewership climbed to 35 crore by the end of their innings.
As PBKS opened their chase, early aggression lifted viewership to 37.2 crore. However, the dismissal of Prabhsimran Singh by Krunal Pandya became a turning point on and off the pitch — with views rising sharply to nearly 50 crore.
The crescendo continued to build with RCB chants echoing in the stadium by the 9th over, reflecting the rising emotional stakes. As fans sensed history in the making, viewership leapt from 55 crore in the 14th over to 63 crore as RCB closed in on victory. And just moments before the team lifted the trophy, views crossed 67.8 crore — a staggering number that cements this final as the most-watched digital sporting event in India to date.
In addition to the on-field triumph, RCB was awarded Rs 20 crore in prize money by the BCCI — a financial token of a momentous achievement.
The franchise’s success was supported by an impressive roster of sponsors in IPL 2025, reflecting the brand power behind the red and gold:
- Title Sponsor: Qatar Airways
- Principal Partners: KEI Wires and Cables, Delhivery, Reliance Jio
- Associate Partners: PUMA, Hindware Italian Collection, boAt, ConfirmTkt, Birla Estates, Nippon Paints
From a marketing standpoint, IPL 2025 reaffirmed its status as India’s single largest commercial and cultural moment. Brands leveraged the tournament’s digital-first strategy, placing high-stakes bets on JioCinema’s interactive, multi-language, and mobile-optimized streaming experience, which continues to transform how India watches cricket.
RCB’s breakthrough win, backed by Krunal Pandya’s game-changing spell and the unwavering loyalty of fans, wasn’t just a sporting moment — it was a nationwide shared spectacle, capturing hearts, screens, and ad spend in equal measure.
As advertisers begin preparing for IPL 2026, one truth is clearer than ever: the IPL isn’t just cricket — it’s India’s biggest broadcast, biggest digital moment, and now, RCB’s greatest story yet.
