Royal Challengers Bengaluru Vs Punjab Kings, IPL 2025 Final: Three Key Battles To Look Out For

Now with the trophy on the line, both sides will hope their big game players rise up to the occasion and end their 18-year drought. Here are the three key battles that will be key in deciding whether the trophy goes north in Punjab or South in Bengaluru

Updated on: 2 June 2025 9:47 pm

Royal Challengers Bengalurus Josh Hazlewood, second right, celebrates. AP

Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Josh Hazlewood, second right, celebrates with teammates after the dismissal of Punjab Kings' captain Shreyas Iyer, second left, during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi

Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings will collide on Tuesday, June 3 in what will be an epic final between the two best sides of Indian Premier League 2025. Both sides have never won the IPL trophy and whoever wins on Tuesday, the league is assured of a new champion.

PBKS finished at the top in the league stage while RCB were only behind them in net run rate. In Qualifier 1 RCB thrashed PBKS to enter final but PBKS booked a rematch after beating MI in Qualifier 2.

Now with the trophy on the line, both sides will hope their big game players rise up to the occasion and end their 18-year drought. Here are the three key battles that will be key in deciding whether the trophy goes north in Punjab or South in Bengaluru.

Shreyas Iyer vs Josh Hazlewood

Iyer is having his best season as a batter but his record against Hazlewood is horrible. In IPL, Iyer has faced 22 balls from Hazlewood, scored just 11 runs from them and gotten out four times including twice this season. If Hazlewood can continue dominating Iyer, PBKS will be put under pressure. However, if Iyer finds a way to attack RCB's attack leader, Bengaluru will definitely stare at a big score.

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Virat Kohli vs Kyle Jamieson

Kohli is having another good season with the bat but in Qualifier 1, his struggles against the moving ball were once again brought to the fore by Jamieson. The lanky New Zealand bowler will once again try to use his swing and bounce to his advantage against Kohli. However, if the ball does not swing, Kohli will definitely fancy his chances to send Jamieson to the cleaners.

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Rajat Patidar vs Yuzvendra Chahal

Both these players did not have the best of times in this season. Both of them also suffered mid-season injuries but the duo has bounced back and will be eager to prove their doubters wrong at the biggest stage of them all. Chahal has dismissed Patidar twice this season and will once again be looking to fox the RCB captain. Patidar, who is considered a brilliant player of spin, will definitely take his chances against the leg-spinner and that will make for a mouth-watering contest.

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