IPL 2025: Clash Of Titans As RCB, PBKS Eye Maiden Title To End Long Trophy Drought

After 70 league matches and three knockout games, the IPL 2025 final will witness a fresh winner as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) gear up for the title clash at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, on Tuesday.

Rajat Patidar-led RCB enter the final with a psychological edge after crushing Punjab by eight wickets in Qualifier 1 in New Chandigarh.

Punjab, however, bounced back in style with a strong win over Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2, thanks to Shreyas Iyer’s unbeaten 87, keeping their hopes of a maiden title alive.

Balanced Squads Set Stage For Fierce Contest

On paper, both teams are evenly matched in batting and bowling.

Punjab’s batting boasts firepower through uncapped players Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh, backed by experienced names like Josh Inglis, Iyer, Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis, and Shashank Singh.

RCB rely on the seasoned opening duo of Virat Kohli and Phil Salt, with support from Patidar, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma, and Krunal Pandya.

Josh Hazlewood leads RCB’s pace attack with 21 wickets, joined by Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Yash Dayal.

Spin duties fall to Suyash Sharma and Krunal Pandya.

For Punjab, Arshdeep Singh and Kyle Jamieson spearhead the pace attack, supported by Stoinis, Omarzai, and Vyshak. Yuzvendra Chahal and Harpreet Brar handle the spin department.

Both teams experienced batting collapses against each other earlier in the season.

RCB stumbled in a league match at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, while Punjab crumbled in Qualifier 1 at home.

The match marks a long-awaited return to the final for both sides.

Punjab last featured in the final in 2014, while RCB’s last appearance came in 2016, when they lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad.

The IPL 2025 final guarantees a new champion, the first since 2022.

Details

When: Wednesday, June 3 at 7:30 pm IST
Where: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
Watch: Star Sports Network (TV) and JioHotstar (live streaming)

Squads

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Rajat Patidar (c), Virat Kohli, Phil Salt (wk), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Devdutt Padikkal, Swastik Chhikara, Liam Livingstone, Krunal Pandya, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Manoj Bhandage, Jacob Bethell, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Salam Dar, Suyash Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Nuwan Thushara, Lungi Ngidi, Abhinandan Singh, Mohit Rathee, Yash Dayal.

Punjab Kings: Shreyas Iyer (c), Nehal Wadhera, Vishnu Vinod (wk), Josh Inglis (wk), Harnoor Pannu, Pyla Avinash, Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Harpreet Brar, Azmatullah Omarzai, Priyansh Arya, Aaron Hardie, Musheer Khan, Suryansh Shedge, Mitch Owen, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Vyshak Vijaykumar, Yash Thakur, Kuldeep Sen, Xavier Bartlett, Pravin Dubey, Kyle Jamieson.

Also Read: Punjab Kings Hold Slight Edge Over Mumbai Indians Ahead Of IPL Qualifier 2