Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) qualified for their first IPL final after 9 years with a win over Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the first qualifier of IPL 2025. The[ Rajat Patidar-led side chased down the target of 102 in just 10 overs to register a one-sided win. Social media was flooded with wishes for RCB, who are eyeing their maiden IPL title.

Vijay Mallya, the former RCB owner, also reacted to RCB's win and shared a post on X. Elated with RCB's win, Mallya wrote: "Many congratulations to RCB for an authoritarian win over PBKS tonight to march into the IPL finals. Outstanding all round performance in a high pressure contest. Onwards and upwards towards the title. Play Bold."

Mallya was at the helm when RCB retained Virat Kohli before the IPL 2011 mega-auction. He was the only player to get retained. Virat became a megastar in the years to come and is the face of Indian cricket. He is the most popular cricketer on social media.

Suyash Sharma delivered a Player of the Match performance for RCB and scalped 3 wickets for just 17 runs. The RCB leg-spinner foxed the batsmen with his googlies. Suyash scalped the key wickets of Marcus Stoinis, Shashank Singh and Musheer Khan.

Josh Hazlewood also shone with the ball and scalped 3 wickets. The right-arm pacer dismissed Josh Inglis, Shreyas Iyer and Azmatullah Omarzai.

The IPL 2025 final will be played on June 3 in Ahmedabad. RCB will face the winner of the second qualifier. Punjab Kings lost the first qualifier and will now be in action in the second qualifier on June 1.

PBKS will face the winning team of the eliminator, to be played between Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians on Friday (May 30). RCB and PBKS have never won the IPL trophy.

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