Both PBKS and RCB gear up for the ultimate clash at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium as they seek to end their long wait for an IPL trophy.
Delhi, June 3: The stage is set for a historic showdown as the IPL 2025 final promises to deliver a new champion tonight at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) – two franchises with passionate fanbases and storied legacies – are locked in a winner-takes-all clash for their maiden IPL title after 18 seasons of near misses.
Punjab Kings, led by the dynamic Shreyas Iyer and coached by the legendary Ricky Ponting, have been the standout side of the season, topping the league table with 19 points and nine wins. They have shown a potent mix of aggressive batting and disciplined bowling. Iyer himself has been the batting lynchpin, amassing 603 runs in 16 innings at an average of 54.81, including six half-centuries. On the bowling front, left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh has led the charge with 18 wickets in 15 innings, maintaining an economy rate of 8.79.
For Punjab, this final represents more than just a match – it’s a chance to banish the ghosts of their previous final heartbreak in 2014 when they fell agonizingly short against Kolkata Knight Riders. Their journey to the summit clash this year has been nothing short of remarkable, culminating in a thrilling five-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2, courtesy of Shreyas Iyer’s unbeaten 87.
Meanwhile, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, captained by Rajat Patidar and spearheaded by the evergreen Virat Kohli, are aiming to finally break their IPL jinx after three previous final defeats (2009, 2011, 2016). Kohli has been the tournament’s top scorer with 614 runs in 14 innings at an average of 55.81, including eight fifties. Complementing him has been Josh Hazlewood, who has taken 21 wickets in 11 innings at an impressive average of 15.80.
RCB’s path to the final included a dominant eight-wicket win over Punjab in Qualifier 1, with Philip Salt’s quickfire 56 setting the tone. Historically, the rivalry between these two sides has been closely contested. In 36 encounters, both teams have won 18 games each, making tonight’s final a true decider not just for the trophy, but also for bragging rights.
The biggest wins between the two franchises are part of IPL folklore. PBKS’s record victory came in 2011 when Adam Gilchrist’s century helped them hammer RCB by 111 runs. On the flip side, RCB’s most resounding win was in 2015, powered by Chris Gayle’s 117, where they bowled out PBKS for just 88 to secure a mammoth 138-run win.
As the players prepare for the ultimate test, both camps know that IPL glory demands more than just skill – it requires temperament and the ability to seize the big moments. Punjab’s longest winning streak against RCB was five matches from 2012 to 2014, while RCB have enjoyed two separate four-match winning streaks against Punjab.
The final promises fireworks. Will Punjab’s consistency and Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy bring them their first title, or will RCB, driven by Kohli’s runs and Hazlewood’s guile, finally end years of frustration and lift the elusive trophy?
Punjab Kings Squad:
Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Josh Inglis (wk), Shreyas Iyer (c), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Harpreet Brar, Kyle Jamieson, Arshdeep Singh, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Yuzvendra Chahal, Suryansh Shedge, Musheer Khan, Xavier Bartlett, Praveen Dubey, Azmatullah Omarzai, Vishnu Vinod, Yash Thakur, Aaron Hardie, Kuldeep Sen, Mitchell Owen, Harnoor Singh, Pyla Avinash.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Squad:
Philip Salt, Virat Kohli, Mayank Agarwal, Rajat Patidar (c), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Nuwan Thushara, Suyash Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, Tim Seifert, Rasikh Dar Salam, Manoj Bhandage, Swapnil Singh, Blessing Muzarabani, Tim David, Mohit Rathee, Swastik Chikara, Abhinandan Singh.
As cricket fans across the globe tune in, one thing is certain – IPL 2025 will crown a new champion tonight. May the best team win!