New Delhi: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) will be gunning for their maiden title when they lock horns in the much-anticipated Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Tuesday, June 03. Both teams have been part of the IPL since the inception of the league in 2008, but have never won the trophy.
This will be the first time RCB will meet Punjab Kings in an IPL final. Punjab entered the summit clash after defeating Mumbai Indians by six wickets in the Qualifier 2 on Sunday, while RCB were the first team to book their spot in the final after their thumping win over PBKS in the first Qualifier. RCB last played the final in 2016, while PBKS have entered their first final in 11 years.
History favours RCB in IPL 2025 final
Punjab Kings have the momentum on their side after their six-wicket thrashing of five-time champions Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2. However, history favours RCB to win the IPL 2025 final. Teams finishing second in the league stage have gone on to lift the IPL trophy eight times in the last 17 seasons, the most in the tournament’s history.
RCB, who finished second on the points table with 19 points after 14 matches, thus have a historical advantage over Punjab Kings. Meanwhile, the teams that won Qualifier 2 have gone on to lift the IPL trophy in the last seven editions of the tournament since 2018. Iyer-led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), who lifted the IPL 2024 title last year, also won the Qualifier 1 against Sunrisers Hyderabad before beating them again in the final.
The teams that have won Qualifier 1 have won 11 out of 14 finals that they have been part of since the inception of IPL in 2008. RCB defeated Punjab Kings by 8 wickets in Qualifier 1 in Mullanpur last week to book their spot in the final. With history favouring Qualifier 1 winners, RCB are favourites to lift the IPL 2025 title and end Virat Kohli’s quest for his maiden trophy.
RCB vs PBKS head-to-head
Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings are on level terms heading into the final as both teams have managed 18 wins apiece in 36 meetings in the past. However, RCB lead the head-to-head record 2-1 in the ongoing IPL 2025, having beaten Punjab Kings twice this season. RCB lost their first meeting against Punjab Kings in IPL 2025, but have come out on top in the last two encounters between the two teams. Both teams have never won an IPL final.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru hold historical advantage against Punjab Kings as the two teams gear up to lock horns in the final of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 final on Tuesday. IPL Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
