RCB and PBKS Set for IPL 2025 Final Showdown
Exciting IPL 2025 Final Awaits
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are gearing up to face the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the highly anticipated final of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. This match is scheduled to take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on June 3, starting at 07:30 PM IST.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Journey
RCB secured their place in the final by defeating Punjab Kings in the first Qualifier, winning by 8 wickets. This marks their first final appearance since their loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2016, and they seem more prepared this time around. Under the leadership of Rajat Patidar, RCB has had an impressive season, winning all 8 of their away matches. Their batting lineup has been exceptional, and with Josh Hazlewood anchoring the bowling attack, they aim to overcome past disappointments and claim their first IPL trophy.
Punjab Kings' Long-Awaited Final
On the flip side, the Punjab Kings are making their first final appearance in 11 years. They earned their spot by defeating the Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2, becoming the first team to chase down a 200+ total against MI. Shreyas Iyer has been instrumental in leading the team, scoring an unbeaten 87 runs in the crucial match. Like RCB, PBKS is also in search of their inaugural IPL title. After their earlier defeat to RCB, the question remains: can Iyer's team break the jinx?
Pitch Analysis
The pitch at Narendra Modi Stadium is known for favoring batsmen, and this trend is expected to continue during the final. However, as the match progresses, spinners may find some assistance due to the dry surface. Bowlers will need to maintain good length to be effective. This season, the average first innings score at this venue has been 214, indicating a potential for a high-scoring encounter.
Head-to-Head Record
| RCB vs PBKS head-to-head | |
| Matches Played | 36 |
| Won by Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 18 |
| Won by Punjab Kings | 18 |
| No Result | 0 |
| Tied | 0 |
Predicted Lineups
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)
Key Players to Watch
Top Wicketkeeper Picks
- Phil Salt | RCB: The aggressive wicketkeeper-batter has found his form, scoring an unbeaten 56 in the previous match against PBKS. With a total of 387 runs at a strike rate of 175.91, he is a valuable addition to any fantasy team.
- Josh Inglis | PBKS: Inglis has been in excellent form this season, amassing 239 runs in 10 matches, including a notable 38 against MI. He could be a game-changer for your fantasy lineup.
Top Batters to Consider
- Virat Kohli | RCB: Kohli remains the backbone of RCB's batting, with 614 runs at an average of 55.82. Despite a quiet last match, he is poised to bounce back strongly.
- Shreyas Iyer | PBKS: Iyer has been a standout performer, scoring 603 runs in 16 matches. His captaincy and recent unbeaten 87-run innings make him a must-pick for fantasy teams.
Top All-Rounders
- Krunal Pandya | RCB: Pandya has been a key player, contributing both with bat and ball, scoring 105 runs and taking 15 wickets this season.
- Marcus Stoinis | PBKS: Stoinis has shown his match-winning capabilities, scoring 152 runs and performing well with the ball. He is a valuable asset for any fantasy team.
Top Bowlers to Select
- Josh Hazlewood | RCB: Hazlewood has been a standout bowler, taking 21 wickets this season, making him a crucial player for RCB.
- Arshdeep Singh | PBKS: Singh has been effective with 18 wickets in 16 matches, making him a key player to include in your fantasy lineup.