RCB vs PBKS, IPL 2025 final: Virat Kohli's nearly two-decade-long agonizing wait to hold an IPL trophy with Royal Challengers Bengaluru will face Shreyas Iyer's determination to turn the tenacious Punjab Kings into first-time winners when the 18th season finale of the world's biggest T20 league takes place in Ahmedabad on Tuesday. Thousands of supporters may don jersey number 18 to cheer on Kohli, who will be competing in an IPL final for the fourth time in his career, at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
Given that it will be Kohli's final appearance on the cricket field for some time — he recently retired from Test cricket — and that India's next ODI assignment is still a few months away, emotions among his supporters will undoubtedly be running high.
RCB have been clinical throughout, putting an end to the problems that marred their past seasons and defeated Punjab by eight wickets in a lopsided Qualifier 1 to reach the final. Despite the humiliating loss at their home ground in Mullanpur, Iyer's Kings showed no signs of weakness as they defeated five-time champion Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2 to get to their first final in eleven years.
After a demanding league round consisting of 70 matches, it is only appropriate that PBKS and RCB, who finished in top two, get a chance to win the trophy that has eluded them since the competition started in 2008. With captain Iyer and coach Ricky Ponting at the helm, Punjab Kings, who have consistently finished in the second half of the 10-team points table, have pulled off an incredible show this time around.
Also Read | Virat Kohli in IPL finals: A legacy without a match-winning knock
RCB vs PBKS: Head-to-Head
Both sides have won 18 matches each in their total 36 meetings in the IPL, demonstrating their classic rivalry. However, RCB have been the better side in the meetings between the two this season. The Rajat Patidar-led unit have trumped PBKS twice in their three meetings this season.
RCB vs PBKS: Dream 11 predictions
RCB Probable XI: Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Rajat Patidar (c), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma
PBKS Probable XI: Priyansh Arya, Josh Inglis, Shreyas lyer (c), Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis, Shashank Singh, Azmatullah Omarzai, Kyle Jamieson, Vyshak Vijaykumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh
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