The Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) victory over the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the IPL 2025 final has not only marked a historic moment for the franchise but has also shattered viewership records, surpassing the highly anticipated India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup match. According to the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) data, the IPL 2025 final drew a staggering 169 million viewers in India, eclipsing the previous record of 166 million set during the India-Pakistan clash in the 2021 T20 World Cup.
This unprecedented viewership highlights the growing popularity and appeal of the IPL, as well as the deep-rooted emotional investment fans have in their teams, particularly RCB. After 18 long seasons, RCB finally lifted their maiden IPL trophy, giving fans a long-awaited fairytale ending. The narrative was ripe for history, and Indian audiences responded with unwavering attention.
The June 3 match, which saw RCB secure their first IPL title in 18 years, also achieved a television rating (TVR) of 11, marking the third-highest rating in IPL history, despite being played on a weekday. The TVR measurement combines reach and time spent to reflect viewer engagement with the content. The match generated 15 billion minutes of total watch-time, exceeding the previous record of 14.2 billion minutes recorded during the India vs South Africa T20 World Cup 2024 final.
Several factors contributed to the record-breaking viewership of the IPL 2025 final. RCB, arguably the most popular team in the IPL, had been eluded of an IPL trophy for 18 years. The opportunity to witness the team in the final once again created huge excitement among fans worldwide. Virat Kohli, a symbol of loyalty and a star player, further amplified the interest as fans wanted to see him win the title for the first time.
Kohli's emotional connection with RCB was evident after the win, dedicating the triumph to AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle, who had been an integral part of the team's journey. Kohli acknowledged their immense contributions and emphasized the shared pursuit of the title. He said that the win was as much theirs as it was his, highlighting the significance of having De Villiers and Gayle present during the momentous occasion.
The IPL 2025 season experienced an unexpected interruption in its schedule due to the India-Pakistan geopolitical conflict. Following the brief suspension, the remaining 17 matches resumed on May 17 and concluded on June 3, extending beyond the original end date of May 25. Despite the disruption, the league's popularity remained strong, with the opening weekend drawing over 253 million viewers and accumulating 27.7 billion minutes of watch-time. The second most-watched match of the season was between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians, which attracted 163 million viewers.
The record-breaking viewership of the IPL 2025 final signifies the tournament's dominance in the Indian sporting landscape and the unwavering support for RCB. The emotional investment of fans, combined with the historic nature of the victory, created a perfect storm that propelled viewership to unprecedented heights, surpassing even the highly anticipated India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup match.
