'Let's Hope And Pray': Karnataka Deputy CM Backs RCB To Win IPL 2025 Trophy
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Rajat Patidar will captain Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL 2025 final against Punjab Kings on Tuesday (June 1) at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru are back in the IPL final after nine years! In the summit clash of IPL 2025, the Bengaluru-based franchise will face Punjab Kings on Tuesday (June 3). The final of the 18th edition of the world's richest franchise cricket league is scheduled to take place at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. RCB will start as favourites for the title after securing a big win by 8 wickets over PBKS in the Qualifier 1 match played on Thursday (May 29) in Mullanpur.
The Rajat Patidar-led side would like to repeat the same show on Tuesday as well and end Bengaluru's 18-year-long wait for their first-ever IPL trophy.
On the eve of the big final in Ahmedabad, Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar backed RCB to win the title this year.
According to him, 'I am happy. Bengaluru boys RCB will win in Ahmedabad. After a very long time, they have come to the finals. The govt of Karnataka and the people of Karnataka are waiting for their victory. A lot of people from Karnataka are going to watch the match in Ahmedabad. Let us hope and pray that they win and come back."
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In the final, RCB will have high expectations from batting superstar Virat Kohli and Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood. With 614 runs to his name in 14 matches played so far, Kohli is RCB's leading run getter in IPL 2025, whereas with 21 wickets in 11 matches, Hazlewood is RCB's most successful bowler. In the Qualifier 1 match against PBKS, the Australian speedster picked up three wickets to help Rajat Patidar's men bowl Shreyas Iyer & Co. out for just 101 runs.
Apart from Kohli and Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma, who won the POTM award in Qualifier 1 for his super bowling show of 3 for 17 in three overs, and Phil Salt, who scored an unbeaten half-century, will be key players for RCB.
On the other hand, PBKS will expect a big show from captain Shreyas Iyer, wicketkeeper Josh Inglis and left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh. Iyer has scored more than 600 runs in the IPL this year, which includes scores of 97 not out against Gujarat Titans on March 25 and 87 not out against Mumbai Indians on June 1 in Ahmedabad.
First Published:
June 02, 2025, 21:15 IST
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