Royal Challengers Bangaluru
Punjab Kings
After more than two months of high-octane action, the IPL 2025 comes down to a dream finale — Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Punjab Kings. Both sides are yet to get their hands on the elusive IPL trophy, and come Tuesday night in Ahmedabad, one of them will finally break the jinx.
RCB, led by a star-studded core, have shown greater consistency this season, while Punjab Kings have played fearless cricket to storm into the final.
Expect a thrilling contest — big hitters on both sides, two balanced bowling attacks, and a high-pressure atmosphere under the lights. This one’s set to go down to the wire. Neither team will hold back with history on the line.
Both teams have explosive hitters from top to tail. On a flat Ahmedabad pitch, expect plenty of big hits.
The betting tip is...
Total Sixes – Over 14.5
68 %
32 %
Royal Challengers BangaluruPunjab KingsVirat Kohli remains the heartbeat of the side. With 614 runs in 15 innings at an average of 56 and a strike rate of 146.53, he’s been the most reliable presence at the top and will be key again in this pressure-packed clash. Phil Salt complements him well, bringing early aggression — his 56 off 27 in the Qualifier was the ideal tone-setter.
Rajat Patidar’s return from injury has shored up the middle order, while Mayank Agarwal and Jitesh Sharma have stepped up with game-changing knocks when needed. Jitesh’s 85* off 33 against LSG is still fresh in memory — proof that RCB’s firepower runs deep.
In the lower middle, Romario Shepherd and Tim David offer the muscle for the slog overs, giving RCB finishing firepower few can match.
On the bowling front, Josh Hazlewood’s return is a game-changer. He was lethal in the Qualifier with 3/21 and leads an attack that now looks much more settled. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Krunal Pandya bring calmness, control, and crucial experience, while young guns Yash Dayal and Suyash Sharma turned up when it counted last match, snaring five wickets between them.
With both departments clicking and confidence at its peak, RCB are in prime shape to finally end their title drought.
Predicted Lineup: Virat Kohli, Philip Salt, Rajat Patidar (c), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma Impact Player: Mayank Agarawal
Punjab Kings have built their IPL 2025 campaign on a strong, aggressive batting unit — and they’ll need that firepower firing on all cylinders in the final. Openers Prabhsimran Singh (523 runs) and Priyansh Arya (451 runs) have done the bulk of the early lifting, consistently setting solid platforms. One of them clicking early could shape Punjab’s chances in this high-stakes clash.
The anchor and accelerator in the middle has been Shreyas Iyer, who’s had a standout season. With 597 runs at a strike rate of 175, he’s been calm under pressure and delivered in crunch moments, including the second Qualifier. If Punjab are to post or chase a big score, Iyer will be the lynchpin once again.
Nehal Wadhera hasn’t posted big scores but his timely cameos, like the 48 off 29 against Mumbai Indians, have been invaluable. Marcus Stoinis and Josh Inglis add depth and experience, with Inglis in particular showing the ability to flip the tempo once he settles in. Shashank Singh has been a surprise package, often closing out tight chases with composure.
The bowling attack has had its shaky moments, but there are match-winners in the mix. Arshdeep Singh leads the way with 18 wickets and is crucial at the death with his yorkers. The absence of Marco Jansen has added pressure on Kyle Jamieson, but the tall pacer has responded well, especially in back-to-back knockout games.
A major boost for Punjab is the return of Yuzvendra Chahal. The veteran spinner brings control and wicket-taking ability in the middle overs. He’ll be well-supported by Vijaykumar Vyshak, whose variations could be effective on the Ahmedabad pitch.
Punjab Kings are more than capable of flipping the script and finally lifting their first IPL trophy.
Predicted Lineup: Priyansh Arya, Josh Inglis (wk), Shreyas Iyer (c), Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis, Shashank Singh, Azmatullah Omarzai, Kyle Jamieson, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal Impact Player: Prabhsimran Singh
Expect a high-scoring thriller, but Royal Challengers Bengaluru have the edge. Their top-order firepower, red-hot form, and the return of Hazlewood make them slight favourites.
Punjab’s batting is strong, but their inconsistent bowling could be exposed under pressure. Back RCB to finally end their title drought.
