It finally happened. After 17 years of heartbreak and relentless internet memes, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have won their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title. And in the most unexpected twist of all, it came with an endorsement from a man believed to carry one of sport’s most notorious superstitions, Drake.
The Canadian rapper, global icon, and self-proclaimed sports fan placed a staggering INR 6.41 crore on RCB to lift the IPL 2025 trophy. And on Tuesday night at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the Rajat Patidar-led side did just that, defeating Punjab Kings (PBKS) by six runs to end their title drought.
This also shattered the infamous "Drake Curse" that has haunted teams and athletes across the sporting spectrum.
Advertisement
Also read: IPL 2025 Purple Cap Winner: Prasidh Krishna finishes as leading wicket-taker, check out entire list
What is the Drake Curse?
For the uninitiated, the "Drake Curse" refers to a bizarre trend in which teams or athletes endorsed by Drake, either through social media posts, photos, or bets, go on to suffer unexpected defeats. It is a superstition born from a string of high-profile failures.Â
From Serena Williams to Conor McGregor, the Drake Curse has hit many famous athletes and teams.
Over time, it evolved from coincidence to cultural meme. Drake wearing your team’s jersey was bad news. A bet from him? Worse. So when news broke that Drake had placed a bet on RCB to win the IPL, fans braced for impact.
However, RCB eventually defied this and helped Drake end his history of betting losses. His payout? Over 11 crore.
What Happened in IPL 2025 Final?
Batting first, RCB posted a total of 190/9 in 20 overs, with Virat Kohli contributing 43 runs off 35 balls. Jitesh Sharma scored a crucial 24-run cameo which came off 10 balls.
Punjab Kings, in response, managed 184/7 in their allotted 20 overs, falling just short of the target. Â
There were tears. There was disbelief. And above all, there was vindication, for the fans, for the players, and for Kohli, who finally got his hands at the IPL trophy.
Also read: Sai Sudharsan to Virat Kohli: Top 5 Run-Machines of IPL 2025