The Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to crown a new champion this season, as Punjab Kings (PBKS) overcome Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2, securing a final berth against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in Ahmedabad. Both teams are yet to claim the IPL title.
The much-anticipated final takes place on Tuesday, 3rd June, once again in Ahmedabad. RCB will enter their fourth IPL final, having previously finished as runners-up in 2009, 2011, and 2016, succumbing to Deccan Chargers, Chennai Super Kings, and Sunrisers Hyderabad respectively. Conversely, PBKS have only reached the final once before, back in 2014 when they were known as Kings XI Punjab, and they were defeated by Kolkata Knight Riders.
Notably, Shreyas Iyer, the current captain of PBKS, is the first player to lead three distinct teams to the IPL finals. He guided Delhi Capitals to the finals in 2020 and led Kolkata Knight Riders to win the title in 2024.
Both PBKS and RCB performed strongly in the league stage, finishing first and second, each with nine victories, four losses, and one match yielding no result. Their net run rates were strikingly similar, highlighting the closely matched nature of the teams. During the league matches, PBKS triumphed over RCB in Bengaluru, while RCB secured victory in the Mullanpur encounter.
In Qualifier 1 on 29th May, RCB dismissed PBKS for 101 runs and comfortably chased the target with ten overs to spare, earning the first spot in the final. Meanwhile, PBKS had to defeat Mumbai Indians twice in quick succession to book their place in the decider.
As Tom Moody and Abhinav Mukund voiced their predictions, cricket enthusiasts eagerly anticipate whether RCB or PBKS will claim their maiden IPL title. The showdown promises competitive cricket from two teams banking on both experience and young talent to lift the coveted trophy.
