IPL 2025 Final Preview: RCB vs PBKS Showdown
Match Overview: RCB vs PBKS
The final of the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) is set for Tuesday, June 3, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, where the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will face off against the Punjab Kings (PBKS). This match marks a significant moment for both teams as they aim for their first IPL title.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Journey
Under the captaincy of Rajat Patidar, RCB has shown remarkable consistency, reaching the finals for the first time since 2016. Virat Kohli has been a standout performer, scoring 614 runs this season, including eight fifties, making him the top scorer for the team. The bowling attack, led by Josh Hazlewood with 21 wickets, has effectively supported the batting lineup. RCB's path to the final included a decisive win over PBKS in Qualifier 1, highlighting their strong form as they seek their long-awaited championship.
Punjab Kings' Resilience
The Punjab Kings, guided by Shreyas Iyer, have displayed impressive resilience throughout the season. After finishing first in the league stage, they faced a setback against RCB in Qualifier 1 but rebounded strongly by defeating the Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2. Iyer's unbeaten 87 in that match showcased his leadership and form. The team features a balanced roster with emerging stars like Priyansh Arya, who scored a rapid century earlier in the season, alongside experienced players like Marcus Stoinis and Arshdeep Singh, the latter being the team's leading wicket-taker this season. With Ricky Ponting as their coach, PBKS aims to secure their first IPL title in their second final appearance since 2014.
Match Details for IPL 2025 Final
| Match Details: RCB vs PBKS | |
| Venue | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad |
| Date and Time | 3 June, 7:30 PM IST |
| Live Broadcast | Star Sports |
| Live Streaming | JioHotstar (app and website) |
Pitch Analysis
The pitch at the Narendra Modi Stadium is expected to favor batsmen, with the average first innings score in the last IPL match being 203 runs. While the contest between bat and ball should be competitive, the pitch is likely to assist batters more in the second innings, leading teams to prefer fielding first if they win the toss.
Head-to-Head Statistics
| Head-to-Head: RCB vs PBKS | |
| Total Matches | 33 |
| RCB Wins | 15 |
| PBKS Wins | 17 |
| Tied | 1 |
| No Result | 0 |
Predicted Playing XI
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar (c), Romario Shepherd, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim Seifert, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Suyash Sharma. (Impact Subs: Rasikh Salam, Manoj Bhandage, Mayank Agarwal, Nuwan Thushara, Swapnil Singh)
- Punjab Kings: Shreyas Iyer (c), Yuzvendra Chahal, Kyle Jamieson, Vyshak Vijaykumar, Josh Inglis (wk), Shashank Singh, Marco Jansen, Nehal Wadhera, Arshdeep Singh, Priyansh Arya. (Impact Subs: Prabhsimran Singh, Musheer Ahmed Khan, Xavier Bartlett, Praveen Dubey)
Toss Insights
Historical Toss Trends
- In the last five IPL matches at this venue, the teams that won the toss opted to bowl first each time.
Benefits of Bowling First
- Out of 44 IPL matches played here, teams batting first have won 21 times, while those fielding first have secured 22 victories. Recent statistics suggest that teams choosing to field first have a slight edge over those batting first.
Match Predictions
Scenario 1
- Toss Winner: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (chooses to bowl first)
- Power-Play Score: 50-55
- PBKS Total: 180-195
- Match Winner: Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Scenario 2
- Toss Winner: Punjab Kings (chooses to bowl first)
- Power-Play Score: 55-60
- RCB Total: 190-210
- Match Winner: Punjab Kings
Final Thoughts
Despite their recent loss to RCB in the first Qualifier, the Punjab Kings bounced back with a strong performance against the Mumbai Indians. However, RCB appears to have the upper hand heading into this IPL 2025 final.