It is set to be a clash of ages come Tuesday when RCB take on PBKS as both teams, desperate after 18 years of trophy drought, will be itching to finally end the wait
The finalists of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 are confirmed. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will now face Punjab Kings (PBKS) on June 3 in what will be an iconic clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad between two sides who have never won the tournament.
Punjab Kings (PBKS) beat Mumbai Indians (MI) by five wickets in the Qualifier 2 on Sunday to book a place in the final for the first time since 2014.
Captain Shreyas Iyer was the hero for PBKS in the Qualifier 2 as he smashed a six-laden 87 off just 41 balls to help his team get to the target of 204 with an over still left.
Earlier, RCB had thrashed PBKS in Qualifier 1 to get an entry to the title clash.
It is set to be a clash of ages come Tuesday when RCB take on PBKS as both teams, desperate after 18 years of trophy drought, will be itching to finally end the wait.
The two biggest names in the two teams, Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer, have both a point to prove and that would be the key storyline going into one of the biggest IPL final in recent times.
Virat Kohli has waited for 18 years to get the IPL trophy. He has all the batting records in the league to his name but when it comes to trophy, the cabinet is empty. He might not be the captain of the Bengaluru franchise but he is still a leader in the side. And his leadership will be much needed for RCB in their first final since that heartbreak in 2016. RCB fans and Kohli too might not be able to digest a similar heartbreak especially with how ruthless the team has looked this season.
A title would fill that much visible void in Kohli's cricketing career. He would want it not just for himself but also for all the love that he has received by RCB fans despite repeatedly being underwhelming.
Also, Rajat Patidar will become the first captain to win an IPL without even making their T20I debut. It would be a massive game for Patidar as well.
Shryeas Iyer won the IPL last year but was shockingly released by Kolkata Knight Riders. The IPL-winning captain was signed by the Kings where he was joined by Ricky Ponting. The duo had made Delhi Capitals one of the best teams for the period of 2019-2021 and now they are doing the same with PBKS.
For all the good work at DC, the Ponting-Iyer combination could not win the trophy but this time they will be eager to get the title.
The 30-year-old is the first player to lead multiple (three) IPL franchises to the final, and he's aiming to better that by becoming the first-ever skipper to win the trophy with two teams.
Iyer, the batter, also has a big point to prove. He is out of the T20I side and would want to be back in there. Another performance in the final and he would just become too hard to ignore for the selectors.