IPL 2025 Final, RCB v PBKS, Preview: Who will enter the history books?

For the first time since 2016, the IPL will crown a new champion after Punjab Kings (PBKS) defeated Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2 in Ahmedabad on Sunday night, setting up a final showdown with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Neither team has won the IPL title before.

The IPL final is scheduled for Tuesday, June 3, also in Ahmedabad.

RCB will be making their fourth IPL final appearance, having previously finished as runners-up in 2009, 2011, and 2016, losing to Deccan Chargers, Chennai Super Kings, and Sunrisers Hyderabad, respectively.

PBKS, formerly known as Kings XI Punjab, have reached the IPL final only once before—in 2014—when they were defeated by Kolkata Knight Riders. That 2014 season was also the only time PBKS had qualified for the playoffs since the format was introduced in 2011. Their captain, Shreyas Iyer, has the unique distinction of leading three different IPL teams to the finals: he captained Delhi Capitals in 2020 and guided KKR to the title in 2024.

During the league stage, PBKS and RCB finished first and second respectively, both with nine wins, four losses, and one no-result from 14 matches. Their net run rates were very close as well. PBKS won their away game against RCB in Bengaluru, while RCB claimed victory in the return fixture at Mullanpur.

The two sides clashed in Qualifier 1 on May 29 in Mullanpur, where RCB bowled out PBKS for just 101 and secured a dominant win with ten overs remaining to earn the first spot in the final. PBKS then traveled to Ahmedabad to face Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2 and defeated them for the second time in a week, booking their place in the final.

Journey to the Final

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)

• RCB secured their spot in the final by defeating PBKS in Qualifier 1 with an 8-wicket victory, chasing down a modest target of 102 runs.

• This marks RCB’s fourth appearance in an IPL final, having previously reached the finals in 2009, 2011, and 2016 without clinching the title.

Punjab Kings (PBKS)

• PBKS bounced back in Qualifier 2, defeating Mumbai Indians by 5 wickets, thanks to a resilient unbeaten 87-run innings by captain Shreyas Iyer.

• This is PBKS’s second appearance in an IPL final, their first since 2014.

Key Players to watch out

RCB

• Virat Kohli: The team’s leading run-scorer this season with 614 runs.

• Josh Hazlewood: Returned from injury to bolster the bowling attack, taking 21 wickets this season.

PBKS