By Devansh Desai
Ahmedabad: After 17 long years, Royal Challengers Bengaluru have one more shot. On the other side, Punjab Kings are chasing a different kind of redemption. When RCB and PBKS walk out at the Narendra Modi Stadium for the IPL 2025 final, one thing is certain by the end of the night, the league will have a brand-new champion.
It’s the kind of final broadcasters dream of. The team with the most loyal, tortured fanbase RCB led by the enduring presence of Virat Kohli, versus the quietly rising force of Shreyas Iyer’s Punjab Kings, who’ve scripted a fascinating campaign powered by depth, all-round versatility, and fearless top-order hitting.
Kohli’s Final Frontier
For Virat Kohli, this is more than just another game. It’s the only thing left. After winning the T20 World Cup in 2024 and adding the Champions Trophy earlier this year, Kohli’s legacy is cast in stone. But the IPL where he’s spent nearly two decades is the one trophy that continues to elude him.
This season, Kohli has been brilliant with the bat, scoring consistently and anchoring chases. But he’s no longer captain. That baton now rests with Rajat Patidar, a gutsy move by the RCB think tank. Patidar’s journey hasn’t been smooth. There were visible signs of tension between him and Kohli mid-season, and home form wavered. But on the road, RCB came alive rattling off wins, powered by a ferocious bowling unit and Kohli’s calm.
Tuesday night will be Patidar’s biggest test not just as a player, but as a leader in a franchise built around one man’s legacy.
The Rise of Shreyas Iyer
On the other side is Shreyas Iyer quietly rewriting the captaincy manual. This is his third IPL final with a third franchise, a record that deserves more applause than it gets. He’s not just leading from the front, he’s dominating. With over 600 runs at a strike rate of 175, Shreyas has been the backbone of PBKS’s campaign.
This season, Punjab have backed Iyer completely, and it shows. He’s built a side that’s versatile, resilient, and capable of adapting to any match situation. Their demolition of Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2 chasing down 204 with ease was a statement of intent.
Flower vs Ponting: Coaching Heavyweights Collide
Behind the scenes, two iconic figures are orchestrating the moves. Andy Flower, the most successful T20 coach in history, has transformed RCB’s tactical structure. If he wins tonight, it’ll be his fourth league title as coach.
Ricky Ponting, with his legacy as one of the greatest captains in cricket, has found his groove with PBKS this year. After a barren nine-year stint with Delhi, he’s now one win away from delivering Punjab their first IPL title.
Tactical Subtleties and Squad Depth
Punjab’s game plan is built around “second-skill” players. Bowling coach James Hopes summed it up best: “Whatever we do second bat or bowl we want a stronger hand.” This flexibility has allowed them to stretch deep into games, with all-rounders like Stoinis, Omarzai, and Jamieson lending both balance and firepower.
RCB, meanwhile, have built around pace. Josh Hazlewood has been near-unplayable in crunch moments, and Krunal Pandya has added bite with his surprising pace and short-ball tactics. Suyash Sharma’s variation gives them a wildcard spinner something they sorely missed in previous seasons.
RCB vs PBKS: The Season So Far
This is the fourth meeting between the sides this year. RCB lead the season head-to-head 2-1. Punjab thrashed them early in Bengaluru in a rain-hit match, but since then, RCB have hit back twice—once with Kohli anchoring a tricky chase in Mullanpur, and more recently, by routing PBKS for 101 in a 10-over demolition job.
The Venue Factor and Weather Watch
Ahmedabad has been kind to Punjab. Shreyas Iyer has a liking for this ground and will draw confidence from past performances here. For RCB, this is uncharted territory. they haven’t played at the venue this With rain in the forecast and the pitch possibly under covers, conditions could favour the bowlers in the early exchanges.
Predicted XIs
RCB: Salt, Kohli, Agarwal, Patidar (c), Livingstone/Tim David, Jitesh (wk), Shepherd, Krunal, Bhuvneshwar, Dayal, Hazlewood
Impact Sub: Suyash Sharma
PBKS: Arya, Prabhsimran, Inglis (wk), Iyer (c), Wadhera, Shashank, Stoinis, Omarzai, Vyshak, Jamieson, Arshdeep
Impact Sub: Chahal/Brar
Players to Watch
- Virat Kohli: A big-game player in the truest sense. Expect him to fire.
- Shreyas Iyer: Calm under pressure, deadly with the bat.
- Josh Hazlewood: Unbeaten in finals. Conditions may play into his hands.
- Arshdeep Singh: Has the tools to swing the new ball and change the game early.
- Rajat Patidar: His captaincy calls will be under the microscope.