RCB vs PBKS IPL 2025 final highlights: ‘Ee Sala Cup Namdu’ Royal Challengers Bengaluru lift maiden title – The Hindu

June 3, 2025e-Paper
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June 3, 2025e-Paper
Updated – June 04, 2025 01:47 am IST
Virat Kohli and Royal Challengers Bengaluru won their maiden title with a six-run victory over Punjab Kings in the final here on Tuesday, ending an 18-year wait for the coveted trophy.
“This win is as much for the fans as it is for the team. It has been 18 long years. I’ve given this team my youth, prime and experience. I’ve tried to win it every season, and I gave it everything I have. To finally have the IPL title is an unbelievable feeling. I never thought this day would come, I was overcome with emotion after the last ball was bowled,” Kohli told after the famous win.
Punjab Kings bowlers did more than a decent job to restrict Royal Challengers Bengaluru to 190 for nine.
Also read | RCB fans ecstatic as Bengaluru team wins maiden IPL trophy
None of the Punjab Kings batsmen stood up to the pressure built by RCB bowlers except some crucial knocks Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh and Josh Inglis. Shashank Singh played a lone battle with wickets crumbling at the other end.
However, their batters could not deliver under pressure as the Shreyas Iyer-led side could only manage 184/7 in 20 overs.
Krunal Pandya was the standout RCB bowler ending with two wickets for 17 runs in four overs.
Also read | IPL winners since 2008: Full list of winners and teams with most IPL titles
Royal Challengers Bengaluru lost Phil Salt for 16 with the score at 18. Then Mayank Agarwal (24) and Virat Kohli (43) consolidated the innings. Chahal struck in his first over by removing Agarwal with the score at 56. 
Captain Rajat Patidar (26) and Kohli added 40 for the third wicket. At the end of 10 overs, RCB were at 87 for 2. RCB lost Virat Kohli with the score at 131.
Also read | IPL 2025 Purple and Orange cap standings: Top wicket-takers and highest run-scorers
When it seemed all are over for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Liam Livingstone (25) and Jitesh Sharma (24) added quick runs of 36 in just 2 overs. 
Romario Shepherd (17 off 9 balls) played some lusty hits towards the end of the innings. Arshdeep Singh took three wicket in the final which ended Royal Challengers Bengaluru at 190.
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Seventeen years, one prayer — and it was finally answered on Tuesday as ​​Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) won its maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title​​ to send the club faithful into rapturous delight.
When Royal Challengers Bengaluru sealed the deal against Punjab Kings, Virat Kohli fell to the ground. Overcome with emotion, he buried his face in the turf, before his delighted teammates rushed in to mob him. 
“This win is as much for the fans as it is for the team. It has been 18 long years. I’ve given this team my youth, prime and experience. I’ve tried to win it every season, and I gave it everything I have. To finally have the IPL title is an unbelievable feeling. I never thought this day would come, I was overcome with emotion after the last ball was bowled,” Kohli told the broadcaster after the famous win. 
​Kohli underlined his deep connection with the city of Bengaluru​. 
“I’ve stayed loyal to this team. I’ve had moments otherwise, but I stayed with them, and them with me. My heart is with Bangalore, my soul is with Bangalore. Tonight, I’ll sleep like a baby,” Kohli said.
“Huge congratulations to RCB on this unforgettable, historic victory. 18 years of passion, loyalty, and never giving up – and tonight, it all came together! “You’ve made every Kannadiga’s dream come true This is more than a win – it’s an emotional moment for the entire RCB Army. Karnataka roars with pride,” wrote Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on his X handle.
A long wait for Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Virat Kohli ended with a maiden title win over Punjab Kings in Ahmedabad on June 3.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru are on top with Yash Dayal removing Omarzai. PBKS 145 for 7.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar removed another dangerous batsman Marcus Stoinis for 6. PBKS are now starring down the barrel at 142 for 6.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar removed Wadhera at a crucial juncture. PBKS are tottering at 136 for 5.
Chasing a target of 191, PBKS are 136 for 4 still needing 55 runs off 4 overs. Can Shashank and Wadhera bring a miracle for PBKS?
Chasing a target of 191, PBKS are now 119 for 4 still needing 72 runs in 5 overs.
Chasing a target of 191, PBKS still needs 85 runs off 36 balls. It is now getting tougher for Punjab Kings. Will Wadhera and Shashank change the course of match?
Chasing a target of 191, PBKS are precariously placed at 101 for 4. A beautiful spell from Krunal Pandya comes to an end. Is it a match-winning spell from him
Another deadly blow by Royal Challengers Bengaluru bowler Krunal Pandya. Krunal Pandya removed dangerous Josh Inglis with Livingstone taking a good catch. PBKS 98 for 4.
Chasing a target of 191, PBKS are 88 for 3 at the end of 11 overs, 
Royal Challengers Bengaluru bowler Romario Shepherd struck a big blow by removing Shreyas Iyer in the 10th over. It is a big moment for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. 
Chasing a target of 191, PBKS are 74 for 2 at the end of 9 overs. Shreyas Iyer and Josh Inglis are the crease. PBKS still needs 117 runs.
Krunal Pandya bags Prabhsimran 26(22). PBKS at 72/2 after 8.3 overs.
PBKS took 15 runs from the first over of Suyash Sharma. It took the score to 70 for 1 at the end of 8 overs.
At the end of the powerplay, Punjab Kings are 52 for 1.. PBKS are chasing a target of 191 in 20 overs.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru strike bowler Josh Hazlewood struck a crucial blow by removing Priyansh Arya. A brilliant catch from Phil Salt ended the Arya innings. PBKS 43 for 1.
Ahmedabad: Former prime minister of UK Rishi Sunak with his wife and businesswoman Akshata Murty during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 final cricket match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings, in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (PTI Photo/Atul Yadav)(PTI06_03_2025_000545A)
Chasing a target of 191, PBKS are 32 for no loss at the end of four overs. Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya are playing cautiously now.
Chasing a target of 191, PBKS openers began positively and scored 28 in three overs. Prabhsimran Singh was dropped by Romario Shephers off the bowling of Josh Hazlewood.
Chasing a target of 191, PBKS openers Arya and Prabhsimran began on a positive note and scored 23 runs off 2 overs.
RCB bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar started the bowling attack but was hit for a boundary off the first ball by Priyansh Arya. Punjab Kings scored 13 runs of the first over. The chase is on
Punjab Kings bowlers did well to restrict Royal Challengers Bengaluru below 200. Now PBKS have to score 191 to lift their maiden title. The chase begins
Sent into bat, Royal Challengers finished at …. Arshdeep bowled a brilliant last over by removing Shepherd and Krunal Pandya and gave away only three runs.. 
Are RCB short by 20-30 runs? we will wait and watch for the run chase.
in the 20th over, Arshdeep Singh struck and removed Romario Shepherd for 17 with RCB score at 188 for 7.,
Vyshak Vijayakumar struck a crucial and telling blow in the 18th over by removing the dangerous looking Jitesh Sharma. RCB are now at 171 for 6.
RCB’s Jitesh Sharma hit some lusty blows of the bowling of Kyle Jamieson’s last over hitting him for two massive sixes and Livingstone followed it with another huge six. What an over for the RCB innings. The over from Jamieson opened up the scoring opportunity for the Bengaluru team. Though strayed in length and line and giving away 22 runs of four balls, Jamieson removes Liam Livingstone at a crucial juncture.. RCB 167 for 5.
After losing Virat Kohli at a crucial juncture, Royal Challengers Bengaluru thrived on from some excellent batting from Jitesh Sharma and Liam Lingstone. Both scored 13 runs of the 16th over bowled by Arshdeep Singh. RCB are 145 for 4 with four overs remaining.
Punjab Kings bowler Omarzai bowled a good 15th over and also removed dangerous Virat Kohli for 43. RCB are struggling at 143 for 4. Omarzai took a brilliant catch of his bowling to remove Kohli.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru batsmen Virat Kohli and Liam Livingstone scored 14 runs of the 14th over from Yuzvendra Chahal. RCB are 125 for 3.
Punjab Kings bowlers are bowling to their plans against Virat Kohli not giving much away. It was now 16 balls without a boundary for RCB, The Bengaluru team are now at 111 for 3 at the end of 13 overs.
RCB skipper Rajat Patidar departs for 26 (16). Kyle Jamieson gets the breakthrough. RCB at 96/3 after 10.5 overs.
Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar consolidate RCB innings. Halfway through the first innings, RCB well settled at 87/2.
Royal Challengers at 80 for the loss of two wickets after 9 overs.
After sent into bat, RCB lost two wickets and were placed at 69 for 2 at the end of 8 overs. Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar are at the crease.
Yuzvendra Chahal brought into the attack right after the powerplay. Chahal strikes in his first over by removing Mayank Agarwal. RCB are 56 for 2.
Vijaykumar Vyshak came in place of Kyle Jamieson to bowl the last over of the powerplay. Royal Challengers Bengaluru scored 9 runs. RCB are 55 for 1.
Azmatullah Omarzai brought in place of Arshdeep singh bowled a good fifth over giving away 7 runs. RCB 46 for 1 at the end of 5 overs
After the dismissal of Phil Salt, Virat Kohli and Mayank Agarwal steadied the RCB innings. at the end of four overs, the Bengaluru side are 39 for 1.
Despite being hit for a six and boundary in his first over, Arshdeep Singh bowled his second over brilliantly the first five balls but conceded a six of the last ball. RCB 30 for 1
Phil Salt continued his onslaught in the second over and hit a boundary from Jamieson in the second over. Jamieson strikes and removes Phil Salt. RCB 18 for 1. Shreyas Iyer takes a good running catch
Royal Challengers Bengaluru opener Phil Salt hit 13 runs off the first over from Arshdeep Singh
RCB openers Phil Salt and Virat Kohli comes into the field. Punjab Kings Arshdeep Singh starts the bowling and starts with a wide. 
“Sabse aage honge Hindustani” and “ Dushman ke chhakke chhudaa de, hum India wale” were among the songs performed as national fervour was the central theme of the closing ceremony ahead of the Indian Premier League final between RCB and Punjab Kings in Ahmedabad on Tuesday (June 3, 2025). 
“Honouring the Indian armed forces”, “Salute to the armed forces” and “Thank you armed forces” were the message displayed across the digital boards used for advertising and sharing match-related information near the boundary as well as on the first tier of the world’s largest stadium here.
Bollywood playback singer Shankar Mahadevan along with his sons Siddharth and Shivam enthralled the near capacity crowd.
The songs from war-themed movie Lakshya titled “ Kandhon se milte hai kandhe” and “Lakshya”, “ Ae watan mere aabad rahe tu”, “Vande Mataram” (AR Rahman composed) were among the songs performed with “ sabse aage honge Hindustani” being the final one.
The ceremony took place before the summit clash of the 18th edition of world’s biggest T20 tournament between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings. 
The players trained in the background with RCB being the first team to take the field for their warm-ups followed by their rivals PBKS soon after.
The tournament was suspended for 10 days last month when the country’s armed forces were executing Operation Sindoor — a military operation in response to Pakistan backed terrorists killing 26 Indian citizens in Kashmir’ Pahalgam. — PTI
Cricket – Indian Premier League – IPL – Final – Royal Challengers Bengaluru v Punjab Kings – Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, India – June 3, 2025 Dancer perform with singer Shankar Mahadevan during a ceremony before the final REUTERS/Amit Dave
Royal Challengers Bengaluru XI: 1 Phil Salt, 2 Virat Kohli, 3 Mayank Agarwal, 4 Rajat Patidar (capt), 5 Liam Livingstone, 6 Jitesh Sharma (wk), 7 Romario Shepherd, 8 Krunal Pandya, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Yash Dayal, 11 Josh Hazlewood
RCB impact bench: Suyash Sharma, Rasikh Dar, Manoj Bhandage, Tim Seifert, Swapnil Singh
Punjab Kings XI: 1 Priyansh Arya, 2 Shreyas Iyer (capt), 3 Josh Inglis (wk), 4 Nehal Wadhera, 5 Shashank Singh, 6 Marcus Stoinis, 8 Vijaykumar Vyshak, Azmatullah Omarzai, 9 Kyle Jamieson, 10 Arshdeep Singh, 11 Yuzvendra Chahal
PBKS Impact bench Prabhsimran Singh, Xavier Bartlett, Harpreet Brar, Suryansh Shedge, Pravid Dubey
Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and decided to bowl first in the all important IPL 2025 final in Ahmedabad against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. 
Both Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru are playing with the same XI.
AHMEDABAD, INDIA – JUNE 03: Shankar Mahadevan an Indian singer perform during the closing ceremony of 2025 IPL prior to the Final match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings at Narendra Modi Stadium on June 03, 2025, in Ahmedabad, India. (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)
Here are some of the important statistics on the teams and also for the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad 
RCB vs PBKS H2H record
Matches played: 36; RCB won: 18; PBKS won: 18
Toss factor at Ahmedabad
Matches: 44
Won the toss and chose to bat: 12 (5W; 7L)
Won the toss and chose to field: 32 (15W; 16L, 1T)
Highest score: Punjab Kings 243/5 vs Gujarat Titans (2025) 
Lowest score: Gujarat Titans 87 (17.3) vs Delhi Capitals (2024)
Highest target chased: Kolkata Knight Riders 207/7 [T: 205] vs Gujarat Titans (2023)
Lowest total defended: Delhi Capitals 130/8 vs Gujarat Titans (2023)
Mo Bobat and Andy Flower and Dinesh Karthik have been part of several T20 competitions, and that experience meant that they needed minimal hand holding in a pressure situation. 
Karthik acknowledged that fact. “And many leaders – not just one or two big names – but lots of leaders through the players that we had picked from auction,” he said.
However, a majority of these cricketers were first-time entrants to the RCB dressing room, and they had to be made to feel secure in a new environment.
It was imperative because RCB handed the captain’s armband to Rajat Patidar, a fine player but someone who does not command a similar stature as some others in the dugout. By all accounts, the think-tank has done that coordination job to perfection and Patidar has now grown into an accepted and respected leader of the pack.
“For Andy and I, creating a sort of environment where people feel safe, where they feel backed, where they feel like they’re accountable for their own decisions, and where they’re able to hopefully showcase their strengths – that’s the key bit,” said Bobat.
Now, they stand just one win away from their maiden IPL title and the ‘Ee Sala Cup Namde’ (This time the Cup is ours) tagline sounds much more realistic than in any previous seasons. — PTI
Insight, perhaps, was not the watchword in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s auction process, for long. In the past, they assembled a slew of stars and then tried to build the team around them. 
It was so glaring in the mid 2010s ‘Galactico’ era of Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers when RCB was a three-man team.
But the appointment of Mo Bobat and Andy Flower and Dinesh Karthik into the coaching staff changed the template, and it reflected in RCB’s approach in the auction room in 2024.
In Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer some of the biggest names in contemporary Indian cricket were available to buy, and going by the past precedent, RCB would have broken their vault to acquire at least two of them.
Instead, they focussed on value buys such as Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Krunal Pandya, Phil Salt, Suyash Sharma, Romario Shepherd and Tim David.
Each of them have played important roles in RCB’s wins this season to prove their worth — home and away.
It was clear that RCB wanted certain players to suit certain roles within the team, rather than purchasing players merely on their reputation.
“I think we got predominantly what we wanted in terms of playing personnel. But more importantly, with the actual shape of the team and the vision of that team that Andy and I spent so much time thinking about and talking about, we pretty much nailed that. And you get to see that come to life on the field,” said Bobat, the RCB’s director, in a release.
The acquisition of Salt offers the most palpable validation of those words.
The RCB was ready to let go Will Jacks, who had blitzed a 41-ball hundred against Gujarat Titans last year, for Salt, whom the coaching staff thought can produce big overs consistently upfront.
He plays the high-risk game, and has taken apart the biggest names in opposition ranks like Mitchell Starc (Delhi Capitals) and Pat Cummins (Sunrisers Hyderabad) to destroy their morale.
However, Salt has also produced those little cameos that made a big difference in the eventual outcome of the match.
The Royal Challengers needed a quick start while chasing an imposing 228 against Lucknow Super Giants, and a win was imperative for them to ensure a top-two finish.
The English opener made 30 off 19 balls, helping Kohli milk 61 runs in just 5.4 overs and RCB did not let that early momentum slip away.
Karthik, the mentor who had a critical role in finalising the RCB auction pattern, explained the rationale behind selecting players like Salt.
“I thought we did beautifully in picking a very balanced squad, knowing what sort of players we want and which player would fit in which role. As we were picking the team, we used to put players in certain roles and see how they fit.
“We were very sure this is the kind of batting order we wanted. And in the auction prep as well, we had a few eleven as combinations, and in that, we had certain players, certain names in mind,” said Karthik.
It reflected even while picking up replacement for an injured player. The RCB management did not hesitate to draft in Mayank Agarwal when the in-form but injured Devdutt Padikkal was ruled out of this IPL season. The management considered Agarwal’s experience at this stage, and his ability to replicate the role Padikkal did this season for them, allowing the bigger hitters to do their job while keeping his end going.
The Karnataka batter also has a solid case for himself, racking up 179 runs from seven matches at a strike-rate of 153 at this season’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
“The difference between this RCB squad and some of the ones that were picked previously are: the amount of experience through the 12 players, the strength and depth in batting,” said Karthik. — PTI
The last time when two non-title winners clashed in the finals was in 2016 — between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in which Sunrisers Hyderabad outsmarted the Bengaluru team
The pitch in Ahmedabad has favoured batters this season. The average first-innings score is 219, with teams scoring 200 or more in 11 out of 16 innings. While sides batting first have won six of the eight matches played here in 2025, PBKS’s successful chase in the second Qualifier has shown that chasing remains a viable option.
PBKS may hold a slight advantage, having already played twice at the venue this season. In contrast, RCB’s last outing here was back in 2024, which could make assessing conditions more difficult.
In terms of bowling, spinners have had marginally better returns. Pacers have taken 65 wickets at an average of 35 and an economy rate of 10, while spinners have claimed 29 wickets at an average of 31, with an economy just under 10.
On the occasion of the 18th IPL Final, a quiz on previous finals and champions.
Daily Quiz | On IPL finals and champions
As Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) get ready to fight it out one last time in the final match of this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) against Punjab Kings, fans back home are beyond excited. Many have been out on the road from Tuesday (June 3, 2025) afternoon itself buying merchandise, arranging screenings and some even taking out bike rallies with flags.
Hundreds of people gathered near the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, which is also the home ground of RCB to buy jerseys, caps, flags and other merchandise of the team. 
RCB frenzy grips Bengaluru ahead of IPL 2025 final, city police make elaborate security arrangements
Former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak did not conceal his affinity towards legendary Virat Kohli and his IPL side Royal Challengers. He backed RCB to end their 18-year wait for an IPL trophy. 
“I’ll give you a clue — Ee Sala Cup Namde! Hopefully, my pronunciation has improved since I proposed to Akshata 16 years ago in Kannada where, truth be told, I’m not entirely sure she knew what I was talking about! “But obviously, I’m married into a Bangalore family, so RCB is my team. We went to matches together a long time ago, and actually, Akshata’s mother and father got me this shirt when we got married, which is great,” he said.
Sunak’s Bengaluru connection is through his wife Akshata, who is the daughter of Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy and entrepreneur Sudha Murty, hails from the Garden City.
“Now, in terms of my favourite players obviously, I’m a massive Virat Kohli fan. He’s a total legend. One of my prized possessions is a signed bat of his that (India’s External Affairs) Minister S. Jaishankar brought me when I was Prime Minister, as a Diwali gift, to Downing Street — which is amazing,” he added.
Sunak also identified cricket as a capable diplomatic tool.
“Cricket is such a helpful diplomatic tool. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (of Australia) and I have always had great cricket banter, especially during the Ashes series — at one point, it even got a tiny bit heated, but all in a very friendly way.
“(India’s) Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi and I also always had great cricket chats before getting down to business. India are coming to England this summer. It’s going to be a great tour, and I know it will strengthen the partnership and friendship between our two countries,” he hoped. — PTI
Former West Indies cricketer Chris Gayle arrived in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, to watch the Indian Premier League (IPL) final between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) at Narendra Modi Stadium on Tuesday. RCB and PBKS will lock horns in the IPL 2025 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium here on Tuesday and will seek to end their title drought in the competition. 
RCB have qualified for the Indian Premier League final thrice in the past, losing all three times (2009, 2011 and 2016). PBKS, on the other hand, qualified for the final once in 2014 when they were known as Kings XI Punjab and lost the match to Kolkata Knight Riders.
Gayle has represented both RCB and PBKS in his illustrious IPL career. For RCB from 2011-17, Gayle scored 3,163 runs in 85 matches and 84 innings at an average of 43.33, with a strike rate of 152.73. He scored five centuries and 19 fifties, with the best score of 175*. In 41 matches and innings for PBKS for 2018-21, he scored 1,339 runs at an average of 36.19, with a strike rate of over 143.21. He scored a century and 10 fifties for RCB, with the best score of 104*. Royal Challengers Bengaluru were the first team to qualify for the final. — ANI
South African power-hitter Heinrich Klaasen on Monday announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket with immediate effect as he aims to strike a work-life balance, prioritising his commitments in franchise leagues across the globe.
The 33-year-old Klaasen had announced his retirement from Test cricket in January last year and has now also decided to quit the white ball formats having represented the Proteas in 4 Tests, 60 ODIs and 58 T20Is in which he scored 2764 runs.
“It is a sad day for me as I announce that I have decided to step away from international cricket. It took me a long time to decide what’s best for me and my family for the future. It was truly a very difficult decision but also one that I have absolute peace with,” Klaasen announced on his Instagram.
Heinrich Klaasen retires from international cricket in a blow to South African cricket
Former India skipper Virat Kohli has performed well many times in big games and Royal Challengers Bengaluru will be hoping for a strong performance from him in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 final against Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Tuesday (June 3, 2025). The Rajat Patidar-led side and the Punjab-based franchise will lock horns against each other in the final of the 18th edition of the cash-rich league at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad to end their title drought in the competition. If Virat lifts the IPL 2025 title with his team, he would have won all major white-ball cricket tournaments. 
Earlier, he had won the Cricket World Cup (2011), T20 World Cup (2024), Champions Trophy (2013, 2025) and the U19 World Cup (2008). Virat has been RCB’s go-to man with the bat this season (IPL 2025), having accumulated 614 runs at an average of 55.82 and a strike rate of 146.53 this season. 
Virat has so far featured in three IPL finals: 2009 (7 against now-defunct Deccan Chargers), 2011 (35 against Chennai Super Kings), and 2016 (54 against Sunrisers Hyderabad). Kohli has also played some T20I finals as well for India, where he has managed 77 (against Sri Lanka in the T20 WC 2014), 41* (against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup 2016), and 76 (T20 WC 2024). 
The stalwart batter so far has seven T20 finals, where he has managed to score 301 runs at an average of 50.16 with the help of three half-centuries, with his best score of 77.In the 50-over format, the right-hand batter has played seven finals which include U19 WC 2008 (19 vs South Africa), Asia Cup 2010 (28 vs Sri Lanka), Cricket World Cup 2011 (35 vs Sri Lanka), Champions Trophy 2013 (43 vs England), Champions Trophy 2017 (5 vs Pakistan), Cricket World Cup 2023 (54 vs Australia), and Champions Trophy 2025 (1 vs New Zealand). In Tests, the 36-year-old player has featured in two World Test Championship finals in 2021 (44, 13) and 2023 (14, 49). 
Across all formats, the right-hand batter has featured in 16 finals, where he has scored 606 runs at an average of 35.64 with four fifties and has a best score of 77.Kohli has played 14 white ball cricket finals so far, where he has scored 486 runs at an average of 37.38 with a highest score of 77. In the last five finals (CT 2025, T20 WC 2024, WC 2023, WTC 2021 and 2023), Kohli has scored just 251 runs in seven innings at an average of 35.85 with the help of two fifties. — ANI
Shreyas Iyer will walk into his second consecutive Indian Premier League (IPL) final on Tuesday evening, but this time not in the purple and gold of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). He will instead be donning the red of Punjab Kings (PBKS), as they face Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Iyer’s blistering 87 off just 41 balls in the Qualifier 2 against Mumbai Indians (MI) took Punjab to their second IPL final after eleven years. 
Few players in Indian cricket carry such a prolific record on the grandest stage of domestic and international competitions. In T20 finals alone, Iyer has made four appearances. He scored an unbeaten 65 for Delhi Capitals (DC) in their 2020 IPL final loss to Mumbai Indians. Representing Mumbai in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2022 final, he chipped in with a composed 34 in a victorious effort against Himachal Pradesh.
In the IPL 2024 final with KKR, he remained not out on 6 as his team clinched the title against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Most recently, in the SMAT 2024 final, Iyer contributed 16 runs for Mumbai in a winning effort against Madhya Pradesh. Across these four T20 finals, Iyer has scored 121 runs in four innings with two not outs, averaging an outstanding 60.5 with one half-century, while finishing on the winning side in three of those encounters. — ANI
History beckons as Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings attempt to break new ground here on Tuesday.
Now into the 18th edition of the IPL, the wait for a maiden title has been long and painful for RCB and PBKS. A glorious new chapter will be written at the Narendra Modi Stadium for one of the two combatants. 
IPL 2025 final | Chance for Royal Challengers, Kings to set the record straight
Quickly: Beyond both representing their respective countries, what is the iconic, unforgettable, eminently forgettable (for the two protagonists, that is) common thread that binds Ollie Pope and Washington Sundar together?
If you said embarrassingly having their stumps splattered by magical yorkers from Jasprit Bumrah, allow yourself a pat on the back. Or not, really. After all, the images of those two searing deliveries are etched in our memories, Pope’s flabbergasted consternation matched only by Sundar lying on his stomach, wondering where that missile had come from, without warning. 
King Shreyas’ experience, nous, acumen and ability to the fore
Royal Challengers Bengaluru fans are a patient and loyal lot. Seventeen IPL editions have gone without the ultimate prize, but the support base has remained hopeful and enthusiastic.
Expectations are high as RCB hopes to break the jinx on Tuesday, even if skipper Rajat Patidar strived to keep a calm demeanour. 
“No one can deny the expectations, but it is important for us to stay in the present. I always look at what is in my hands, and what we can control,” Patidar said in the captain’s press conference here on Monday
It is important for us to stay in the present: Rajat Patidar
After securing the win against Mumbai Indians in the IPL Qualifier 2 here on Sunday, Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer walked off without much celebration. Shreyas, who played out of his skin to guide PBKS home, shifted his focus immediately to the next task — the grand final on Tuesday.
“After the win over Mumbai, I felt like my job was only half done. The job is not yet finished. We have a match on Tuesday, and I have to come back to play tomorrow. So I was thinking that recovery is important, and how to prepare myself,” Shreyas said in a press conference here on Monday. 
Job only half done, says Shreyas Iyer ahead of final
Ahead of the widely-anticipated, high-stakes IPL 2025 final between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings, leaders of Karnataka took to social media to convey their wishes to the home team.
The match, being played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on June 3, 2025, will see RCB attempt to break a 17-year-old jinx and script victory. With IPL frenzy taking over loyal fans across the State, political leaders were not far behind in joining the bandwagon and cheering their team on.
‘Good things come to those who wait, today is our moment’: Karnataka leaders wish RCB ahead of IPL 2025 finals
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) team reaching the finals of Indian Premier League (IPL) finals and the final match being played on Tuesday (June 3), has come as a blessing in disguise for the restobars and pubs in Bengaluru as most of them are expecting two or three times more than usual footfall on the day. 
“On a regular Tuesday, our footfall is only around 350 to 400 covers. But on the final day, we are expecting at least 700 to 800 people as we do not have any cover charge and are open to all,” said Vinay Chandrashekhar, partner at Long Boat Brewing Co, Marathahalli. 
RCB craze: Restaurants, pubs in Bengaluru sold out for IPL final day
The Indian Premier League (IPL) will get a new champion on Tuesday (June 3, 2025) in Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium after the much-awaited final between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Neither team has ever won the IPL. 
In total, seven teams have lifted the IPL trophy over the 18 editions of the annual tournament — one of them is the now-defunct Deccan Chargers. Two teams weren’t part of the tournament (Sunrisers Hyderabad and Gujarat Titans) when the league began in 2008.
IPL winners since 2008: Full list of winners and teams with most IPL titles
Published – June 03, 2025
Indian Premier League / IPL / Twenty20 / Live news
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