Sandy Verma
Tezzbuzz|03-06-2025
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 final is set for a entertaining contest as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) take on Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Tuesday, June 3, at the prestigious Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
Both sides are in pursuit of their first-ever IPL crown, adding extra intensity to what is already shaping up to be one of the most captivating finals in the league’s history. RCB and PBKS dominated the league stage, finishing first and second, respectively, with 19 points each, setting the stage for an evenly matched showdown. Their head-to-head battles this season have been nothing short of dramatic. PBKS claimed victory in the initial league encounter by five wickets, but RCB responded emphatically in the return fixture with a seven-wicket win. The momentum swung further in Qualifier 1, where RCB outclassed Punjab with an eight-wicket win, chasing a modest 102-run target with ease. With legacy, revenge, and a long-awaited trophy at stake, the grand finale in Ahmedabad is perfectly poised to deliver a classic.
Matches Played: 36 | PBKS WON: 18 | RCB won: 18 | No result: 00
The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad is renowned for its batting-friendly track, offering ideal conditions for stroke-play. The surface is typically hard and provides consistent bounce, allowing batters to trust the pitch and play their shots freely. In night games, seamers might extract brief movement with the new ball under lights, but this assistance usually diminishes quickly.
As the match wears on, the pitch tends to flatten out, making run-scoring easier and favouring the batters even more. Spinners could find some grip during the middle overs, especially if there’s a hint of dryness, but the reliable bounce keeps them from dominating. Traditionally, teams chasing have had the upper hand at this venue, largely due to the impact of dew in the second innings. With that in mind, the captain winning the toss in a high-pressure contest like the IPL final is expected to opt for bowling first.
Jitesh Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Shashank Singh, Azmatullah Omarzai
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Rajat Patadar (C), Virat Kohli, Yash Dayal, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Liam Livingstone, Rasikh Dar, Suyash Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Nuwan Thushara, Manoj Bhandage, Jacob Bethell, Devdutt Padikkal, Swastik Chhikara, Lungi Ngidi, Abhinan Singh, Mohit Rathee, Josh Hazlewood
Punjab Kings: Aaron Hardee, Arshdeep Singh, Azmatullah Omarzai, Glenn Maxwell, Harnoor Singh Pannu, Harpreet Brar, Josh Inglis, Kuldeep Sen, Lockie Ferguson, Lockie Ferguson, MARCO JANSEN, Marcus Stoinis, Marcus Stoinis, Musheer Khan, Nehal Wadhera, Prabhsimran Singh, Praveen Dubey, Priyansh Arya, Pyla Avinash, Shashank Singh, Shreyas Iyer (C), Suryansh Shedge, Suryansh Shedge, Vijaykumar Vyshak, VISHNU VISHAK, VISHNU VINOD, Xavier Bartlett, Yash Thakur, Yuzvendra Chahal