The stage is set for the IPL 2025 final. On June 3, the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad will host the championship match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Punjab Kings. Neither team has won the IPL trophy before, so this year’s league is guaranteed to have its eighth champion in 18 years. Let’s break down what to expect from the final match, from the playing eleven to the pitch conditions.
Pitch Report
The stadium’s pitch has historically favored batsmen. In the recently played Qualifier 2 match at this venue, a total of 410 runs were scored. This season, teams that batted first at this ground have had an advantage, with six out of eight matches won by the team batting first. Notably, Punjab Kings hold the record for the highest score at this venue, scoring 243 runs against Gujarat Titans this year.
Head-to-Head Record
The head-to-head record between Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore is evenly matched, with 18 wins each in 36 IPL matches. This season, they have played each other three times, with Bangalore winning two of those matches. Looking at their last six encounters, Punjab has only managed one win, suggesting Bangalore might have the upper hand in the final.
Here are the predicted playing elevens for both teams:
- Royal Challengers Bangalore: Faf du Plessis, Rajat Patidar (captain), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma
- Punjab Kings: Prabhsimran Ary, Josh Inglis, Shreyas Iyer (captain), Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis, Shashank Singh, Izharulhaq Naveed, Kyle Jamieson, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal
With both teams looking strong, the final match promises to be an exciting encounter. Who will emerge as the eighth champion in IPL history? The stage is set, and the cricket world is waiting.