Will IPL 2025 See RCB or PBKS Claim Their First Title?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Both teams are vying for their first IPL title.
- RCB has the advantage of a recent victory over PBKS.
- Key players include Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, and Josh Hazlewood.
- The final is set to take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
- Fans can watch the match on Star Sports and JioHotstar.
Ahmedabad, June 2 (NationPress) Following 70 league matches and three knockout games, the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 is poised to crown a new champion as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) have navigated through challenges to reach the final showdown at Narendra Modi Stadium on Wednesday.
In this epic face-off, the Rajat Patidar-led RCB comes in with momentum after defeating PBKS by eight wickets in Qualifier 1 at Mullanpur, thus securing their spot in the final directly. Meanwhile, Punjab made a strong comeback following their defeat to the Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2, thanks to Shreyas Iyer's explosive 87 not out, keeping their aspirations for a first-ever title alive.
Analyzing the teams, both sides are evenly matched in terms of batting and bowling prowess. PBKS features a formidable batting lineup, including the promising uncapped players Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh, alongside seasoned players like Josh Inglis, Iyer, Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, and Marcus Stoinis. Conversely, RCB relies on the veteran opening duo of Virat Kohli and Phil Salt, complemented by a strong batting contingent featuring captain Rajat Patidar, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma, and Krunal Pandya.
In the bowling arena, Josh Hazlewood has been leading the charge for RCB with 21 wickets, supported by Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Yash Dayal, while Suyash Sharma and Krunal Pandya handle the spin duties.
For PBKS, Arshdeep Singh and Kyle Jamieson will carry the pace-bowling load, backed by Stoinis, Azmatullah Omarzai, and Vijaykumar Vyshak. Yuzvendra Chahal and Harpreet Brar will spearhead their spin bowling.
Interestingly, both RCB and PBKS have encountered batting collapses this season when facing each other. RCB stumbled against PBKS during a league match at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, while the home team faltered in Qualifier 1 in New Chandigarh.
As this thrilling tournament nears its conclusion, fans can anticipate an electrifying contest between the top two teams of the 2025 season.
It has been a long journey for both franchises to reach the final of this lucrative league. PBKS last made it to the finals in 2014, while RCB reached the title fight in 2016, only to be defeated by their rivals, the Sunrisers Hyderabad. This final also marks the first time since 2022 that the competition will witness a new champion.
When: Wednesday, June 3 at 7:30 pm IST
Where: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
Where to 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.