IPL 2025 Final: Shreyas Iyer’s Punjab Kings Elect to Bowl First Against RCB in High-Stakes Title Clash
Shreyas wins toss, Kohli & Salt to open for Bengaluru; Both teams chase maiden IPL crown under floodlights in Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad, June 3 — The IPL 2025 Final is underway at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, with a sea of red and electric blue setting the tone for what could be a defining chapter in Indian franchise cricket. Punjab Kings (PBKS) captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to bowl first, sending Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in to bat on a dry, hard pitch that appears tailor-made for strokeplay.
While both sides are gunning for their first-ever IPL title, the spotlight is firmly on how these units — packed with firepower, nerves, and unyielding ambition — hold up under pressure on the biggest stage of them all.
Shreyas Keeps It Calm, Patidar Calls It Flat
“We’re gonna play it like a final,” said Shreyas Iyer, moments after calling it right at the toss. He spoke of a message of calm running through the PBKS dressing room — a mindset cultivated over weeks of high-pressure cricket. “The crowd here is electrifying,” he added, visibly soaking in the Ahmedabad energy. “We’ve envisioned lifting the trophy.”
RCB skipper Rajat Patidar, leading the side in his debut season as captain, acknowledged that his team too would have preferred chasing. “We also wanted to bowl. Looks a good pitch — flat, mix of red and black soil. Just another game for us,” he said, showing no signs of nerves.
The XIs: No Tim David for RCB, PBKS Stick With Same Core
RCB has opted for an unchanged playing XI from their last outing, despite speculation around a potential inclusion of Tim David. He didn’t feature in the Impact bench either. Instead, Suyash Sharma is the likely substitute to be brought in later. Phil Salt and Virat Kohli continue as openers, with Mayank Agarwal, Liam Livingstone, and Jitesh Sharma forming the middle core. Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar shoulder the bowling.
Punjab Kings, meanwhile, are backing their current formula — same XI, same intent. Josh Inglis retains the gloves, while Marcus Stoinis and Azmatullah Omarzai give the side a potent all-round presence. No Harpreet Brar, no Xavier Bartlett, though both feature on the Impact bench alongside Prabhsimran Singh, who may slot in later depending on the chase.
Full Squads
Royal Challengers Bengaluru XI:
- Phil Salt
- Virat Kohli
- Mayank Agarwal
- Rajat Patidar (capt)
- Liam Livingstone
- Jitesh Sharma (wk)
- Romario Shepherd
- Krunal Pandya
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar
- Yash Dayal
- Josh Hazlewood
Impact Bench: Suyash Sharma, Rasikh Dar, Manoj Bhandage, Tim Seifert, Swapnil Singh
Punjab Kings XI:
- Priyansh Arya
- Shreyas Iyer (capt)
- Josh Inglis (wk)
- Nehal Wadhera
- Shashank Singh
- Marcus Stoinis
- Azmatullah Omarzai
- Kyle Jamieson
- Arshdeep Singh
- Yuzvendra Chahal
- Vijaykumar Vyshak
Impact Bench: Prabhsimran Singh, Xavier Bartlett, Harpreet Brar, Suryansh Shedge, Pravid Dubey
Ahmedabad Buzzes, Fans Roar R-C-B
It was impossible to miss the R-C-B chants roaring across the stadium even before the toss. It’s a city historically neutral in its IPL loyalties, but Virat Kohli’s enduring charisma seems to have pulled a massive chunk of the Gujarat crowd behind the red brigade. Ravi Shastri’s booming voice at the toss only added to the adrenaline.
This is RCB’s third IPL final, having lost both their previous appearances (2009, 2016). For PBKS, it’s their second — and first since their heartbreak in 2014 against KKR. Neither side has yet tasted the sweetness of IPL silverware.
Strategy Talk: What the Toss Means
By choosing to bowl, PBKS are clearly banking on chasing under lights, a method that has worked well at Ahmedabad this season. The pitch looked true at the start — hard, no visible cracks, and a blend of red and black soil, which generally offers true bounce and some grip later in the night.
For RCB, the key will be to post a score in the 180–200 range. Phil Salt’s powerplay aggression and Kohli’s anchoring will be crucial. Patidar, known for taking on spinners in the middle overs, must deliver under pressure. Their bowling will hinge on how Hazlewood and Dayal handle the death overs, a phase where PBKS have often surged late with finishers like Stoinis and Shashank Singh.
What This Final Represents
More than a clash of bat and ball, this is a meeting of redemption arcs. RCB, led by an uncapped Indian captain, have stitched together wins with resilience and depth, not relying on star names alone. Their mid-season pivot — bringing in Livingstone and Krunal — gave them balance and bite.
Punjab Kings, long viewed as the IPL’s most mercurial side, have found leadership stability in Shreyas Iyer. Their bowling, with Arshdeep Singh and Chahal, has consistently been among the top wicket-taking duos this season. The return of Stoinis from injury mid-tournament rejuvenated their middle order.
The Road So Far
RCB topped the league phase with a late surge, finishing second after beating SRH in a dramatic final league game. PBKS snuck into the playoffs as the fourth seed, then stunned top-seeded Rajasthan Royals in the Qualifier 1 before booking their final spot by outclassing LSG.
What’s at Stake
For players like Kohli, a title is the missing piece. For Shreyas Iyer, it’s a validation of leadership. For uncapped names like Priyansh Arya or Suyash Sharma, it’s legacy-making. And for fans — millions of them — tonight is a culmination of 60 days of drama, despair, and delirium.
As the first ball approaches under the Ahmedabad lights, one truth is clear: one of these teams will finally break the curse tonight. The question is — who blinks first?
Written by Ankit T. | Published on 3 June 2025 | Source: ESPNCricInfo & JioHotstar
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