RCB vs PBKS Live Score, IPL 2025 Final, Ahmedabad Weather Updates: Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Punjab Kings aim to end title drought
RCB vs PBKS Live Score, IPL 2025 Final, Ahmedabad Weather Updates: Virat Kohli's near two-decade-long pursuit of an IPL trophy with Royal Challengers Bengaluru will face a stern challenge from Shreyas Iyer's determined Punjab Kings when the 18th season of the world's biggest T20 league culminates at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Tuesday.
With RCB fans expected to flood the stands in No. 18 jerseys, the summit clash promises to be an emotional spectacle — particularly with Kohli stepping away from cricket temporarily following his Test retirement and with India's next ODI series still months away.
RCB have finally shaken off the inconsistency that haunted their past campaigns, arriving in the final on the back of a dominant eight-wicket win over Punjab in Qualifier 1. Kohli has once again led from the front with 614 runs, anchoring the innings and laying solid foundations at the top. But the real transformation lies in the depth around him — a more balanced batting unit that no longer relies solely on its talisman.
Phil Salt's explosive approach complements Kohli's poise, while Mayank Agarwal, captain Rajat Patidar, and Jitesh Sharma have delivered crucial contributions throughout the season. The team is also hoping for the return of Tim David, who has missed the last two games. If fit, he'll reunite with Romario Shepherd as a powerful pair in the death overs.
On the bowling front, Josh Hazlewood has been instrumental with 21 wickets, bringing calm control and penetration. The Australian will aim to climb higher on the wicket charts in what could be his last outing of the season.
Punjab Kings, meanwhile, responded to their crushing defeat in Qualifier 1 with a remarkable rebound, eliminating five-time champions Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2 to secure their first final appearance in 11 years.
That both RCB and PBKS — the top two teams in the league stage — have made it to the final adds a poetic layer to a contest between two franchises chasing their maiden title.
For Punjab, the turnaround has been nothing short of spectacular. Long viewed as underachievers, they've flourished under the strong leadership of captain Iyer and head coach Ricky Ponting.
Iyer, who amassed 603 runs this season, is leading an IPL final for the second straight year after his 2024 triumph with Kolkata Knight Riders. Remarkably, he becomes the first player to captain three different franchises in IPL finals — Delhi Capitals, KKR, and now PBKS — highlighting his pedigree as a leader.
His hunger remains undiminished, and with a solid supporting cast including Prabhsimran Singh, Josh Inglis, Priyansh Arya, and Shashank Singh, Punjab boast a line-up that can counterpunch with force.
Though the absence of Marcus Jansen has left their bowling attack thinner on paper, Punjab showed grit by keeping MI quiet on a batting-friendly track. Yuzvendra Chahal, still nursing a hand injury, wasn't at his best in Qualifier 2, but PBKS will be counting on him to deliver against his former team.
With no rain predicted, the match is expected to proceed without weather interruptions. A 120-minute extension window and a designated reserve day are in place to ensure the final reaches its conclusion.
Squads:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Rajat Patidar (c), Virat Kohli, Phil Salt (wk), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Devdutt Padikkal, Swastik Chhikara, Liam Livingstone, Krunal Pandya, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Manoj Bhandage, Jacob Bethell, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Salam Dar, Suyash Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Nuwan Thushara, Lungi Ngidi, Abhinandan Singh, Mohit Rathee, Yash Dayal.
Punjab Kings: Shreyas Iyer (c), Nehal Wadhera, Vishnu Vinod (wk), Josh Inglis (wk), Harnoor Pannu, Pyla Avinash, Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Harpreet Brar, Azmatullah Omarzai, Priyansh Arya, Aaron Hardie, Musheer Khan, Suryansh Shedge, Mitch Owen, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Vyshak Vijaykumar, Yash Thakur, Kuldeep Sen, Xavier Bartlett, Pravin Dubey, Kyle Jamieson.
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