After two months of electrifying cricket, 70 league matches, and three thrilling knockouts, the Indian Premier League 2025 is all set for an epic finale. On Wednesday night at Ahmedabad’s colossal Narendra Modi Stadium, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will take on Punjab Kings (PBKS) in a battle for their maiden IPL title—ending years of heartache for both fanbases.
Clash of Destiny: RCB vs PBKS
Rajat Patidar’s RCB heads into the final with confidence, having steamrolled PBKS by eight wickets in Qualifier 1. That dominant performance booked them a direct ticket to the final. However, Punjab showed grit and character in bouncing back. Shreyas Iyer’s explosive unbeaten 87 in Qualifier 2 against Mumbai Indians revived their championship hopes and silenced critics.
The stage is now set for a showdown between two franchises that have been perennial underachievers but are now just one win away from rewriting their history.
Evenly Matched on Paper, Explosive on the Field
Both teams bring a power-packed arsenal to the table.
Punjab’s batting is top-heavy and dangerous. Young guns Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh have emerged as fearless strikers, while the experienced trio of Josh Inglis, Iyer, and Marcus Stoinis brings both consistency and aggression. Supporting them are Nehal Wadhera and Shashank Singh, adding depth to the middle order.
RCB, on the other hand, lean on the dependable opening pair of Virat Kohli and Phil Salt, with Patidar, Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma, and Krunal Pandya forming a robust middle order. Their batting firepower has been on display all season.
The bowling departments are equally formidable. For RCB, Australian ace Josh Hazlewood leads the pace unit with 21 wickets, ably supported by Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Yash Dayal. Their spin department is steered by Suyash Sharma and Krunal Pandya.
Punjab’s attack features Arshdeep Singh and Kyle Jamieson in the fast lane, with backup from Stoinis, Omarzai, and Vyshak. Spin duties lie in the capable hands of Yuzvendra Chahal and Harpreet Brar, both of whom can change games with their guile.
A Tale of Collapses and Comebacks
Interestingly, both teams have experienced unexpected collapses against each other this season. RCB suffered a stutter against Punjab in Bengaluru during the league stage. Then in Qualifier 1, it was PBKS who crumbled on their home turf in New Chandigarh.
Yet both sides have proven their ability to recover—and with a title on the line, they’ll be looking to bring out their very best.
A New Champion Awaits
It’s been nearly a decade since either team came this close to the title. PBKS last made the final in 2014, while RCB’s last appearance came in 2016—both ending in heartbreak. With IPL 2025 guaranteed to crown a fresh champion for the first time since 2022, Wednesday night promises to be an emotional rollercoaster.
Final Showdown Details
Date: Wednesday, June 3
Time: 7:30 PM IST
Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
Watch Live: Star Sports Network (TV), JioCinema (Streaming)
Squads
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB):
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 (PBKS):
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.
