Surprising Name On The Cards: RCB's Underrated Match-Winners In IPL 2025 Victory

RCB underrated match winners [Source: @iplt20.com]

For 18 years, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) waited for the elusive IPL title, but on Tuesday the franchise scripted history as they captured their maiden title. Unlike previous seasons, almost all the players delivered the goods as the RCB team dominated the tournament.

In a nerve-wrecking finale against Punjab Kings, the Royal Challengers kept their calm and won the title by 6 runs. Now, everyone is talking about the likes of Virat Kohli, Phil Salt and Josh Hazlewood. They deserve the accolades, but here are 3 underrated gems who were equally responsible for the title win.

1) Devdutt Padikkal

When the left-handed batter was purchased by the franchise, many raised eyebrows and questioned Padikkal's T20 game. However, the team showed faith in him and the Karnataka batter responded in style.

Batting at number 3, he slammed a couple of crucial fifties and always maintained the momentum built by Kohli and Salt.

(Padikkal stats in IPL 2025)

In 10 matches, he slammed 2 fifties, but most importantly had a strike rate of 150. In 2024, 2023 IPL seasons, he struck at 71 and 130, and this was a massive upgrade from him. The batter got injured midway and was replaced by Mayank Agarwal at number 3.

2) Krunal Pandya

The man without whom RCB wouldn't be standing with the IPL trophy, Krunal Pandya produced yet another match-winning performance in the finale as his twin strikes helped the team beat PBKS.

In many aspects, he was the silent warrior for RCB, as the all-rounder scalped 17 wickets in 15 matches and when needed also chipped in with the bat.

(Krunal bowling stats in IPL 2025)

With his finale heroics, Krunal also became the only player to win two Man of the Match awards in the finals, a feat to be proud of.

3) Suyash Sharma

The definition of underrated, Suyash Sharma was roped in by the franchise with a huge expectations and the spinner did live upto it. Sometimes stats could be deceptive and that was the case with Suyash. 

(Suyash Sharma stats in IPL)

Just 8 wickets in the tournament may look like an average stat, but Suyash was often used as a defensive bowler and his economy of just 8.84 tells the story. He did his role to perfection and was a key figure in the title run of 2025.

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