The stage is set in Ahmedabad for the IPL 2025 Final, featuring a fascinating clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Punjab Kings (PBKS). Both teams are vying for their first-ever IPL title. Let’s dive into an insightful tactical preview for the blockbuster finale.
Match Details
- Date: Tuesday, June 3, 2025
- Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
- Pitch: Mixed (red and black soil), batting-friendly
- Expected Conditions: High-scoring match, Dew expected later in the evening
Pitch and Conditions Overview
Ahmedabad has consistently produced high-scoring matches in IPL 2025, with 11 totals above 200 in just eight matches. Teams batting first have been successful in 6 out of 8 matches, indicating a slight advantage when setting a target.
- Average Score Batting First: Over 200
- Preferred Choice: Batting first generally, but chasing successful recently.
Key Tactical Battles
1. PBKS Top Order vs RCB’s Hard-Length Seamers
Punjab’s top order has consistently struggled against RCB’s pace strategy of bowling short and back-of-length deliveries. RCB seamers have picked 13 wickets bowling these lengths in the Powerplay at an economy of 7.81.
Key Match-ups:
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar vs Prabhsimran Singh
(Dismissed 5 times in T20s) - Josh Hazlewood vs Josh Inglis
(Dismissed twice off short balls in IPL 2025)
| Team | Avg vs Short | Balls per dismissal |
|---|---|---|
| RCB Bowlers | 22.53 | 17.3 |
| PBKS Batters | 22.22 | 14.2 |
Tactic for PBKS:
Top order batters need patience against hard lengths and focus on shot selection rather than aggressive stroke-play early.
2. Shreyas Iyer’s Jinx Against RCB
Shreyas Iyer has been Punjab’s inspirational captain, averaging an incredible 242 runs at Ahmedabad this IPL without dismissal. Yet against RCB this season, he’s scored just 15 runs in three matches.
Troublesome Bowlers:
- Josh Hazlewood (4 dismissals in 22 balls)
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3 dismissals in 50 balls)
PBKS Solution:
Iyer must carefully navigate early deliveries from Hazlewood and Kumar, adopting a cautious approach initially.
3. Suyash Sharma vs PBKS Middle-Order
RCB’s leg-spinner Suyash Sharma has been highly effective against Punjab’s middle order. Of his 8 wickets in IPL 2025, 5 came against PBKS batters.
- Marcus Stoinis: Dismissed twice by googlies
- Shashank Singh: Dismissed once, struggling against wrong-ones
- Nehal Wadhera: Successfully countered Suyash (25 runs off 16 balls)
PBKS Tactic:
Promote Nehal Wadhera strategically when Suyash bowls. Aim to disrupt Suyash’s rhythm with a left-right combination.
4. Arshdeep’s Crucial Powerplay Spell
RCB’s opening pair of Virat Kohli and Phil Salt have amassed 664 runs this season, at a strike rate over 10 runs per over. Arshdeep Singh, despite his recent dip in form, is key in neutralizing this pair early.
Head-to-Head Battles:
- Arshdeep vs Phil Salt: 4 dismissals in 6 T20 innings (short balls across off-stump)
- Arshdeep vs Virat Kohli: 2 dismissals in 57 balls
PBKS Strategy:
Arshdeep must rediscover his aggressive approach, using the short ball effectively to trouble RCB openers and give PBKS an early advantage.
5. Exploiting Punjab’s Fifth-Bowler Weakness
Punjab lacks bowling depth without Marco Jansen. Their current all-rounder combinations (Azmatullah Omarzai, Marcus Stoinis) have struggled, conceding runs at an economy rate of over 11.5 per over.
RCB’s Opportunity:
Target these overs aggressively. Attack from both ends, forcing Punjab to reshuffle bowling plans frequently.
6. Punjab’s Dilemma: Vyshak or Brar/Chahal?
Punjab faces a key selection decision between pace bowler Vijaykumar Vyshak and spin options Harpreet Brar or Yuzvendra Chahal. RCB’s right-hand-heavy lineup could prompt Punjab towards spin, but RCB’s batters have thrived against left-arm spin and leg-spin this season.
Key Bowling Match-ups (Chahal & Brar vs RCB batters):
- Mayank Agarwal vs Chahal: 7 dismissals, SR 152.73
- Tim Seifert vs Chahal: 78 runs off 37 balls without dismissal (unlikely selection though)
- Virat Kohli vs Chahal/Brar: Reasonable comfort, SR around 130, with occasional troubles.
Punjab’s Consideration:
Select Chahal for his wicket-taking ability but remain flexible with match-ups and bowling rotation based on match dynamics.
Probable Playing XIs
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
- Virat Kohli
- Phil Salt
- Mayank Agarwal
- Rajat Patidar (c)
- Liam Livingstone
- Jitesh Sharma (wk)
- Romario Shepherd
- Krunal Pandya
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar
- Yash Dayal
- Josh Hazlewood
- Suyash Sharma
Punjab Kings (PBKS)
- Prabhsimran Singh
- Priyansh Arya
- Josh Inglis (wk)
- Shreyas Iyer (c)
- Nehal Wadhera
- Shashank Singh
- Marcus Stoinis
- Azmatullah Omarzai
- Kyle Jamieson
- Arshdeep Singh
- Harpreet Brar/Yuzvendra Chahal
- Vijaykumar Vyshak
Key Stats & Facts
- RCB & PBKS head-to-head record: 18 wins each.
- Arshdeep Singh: wicketless in 4 of his last 5 games.
- Shreyas Iyer: Dismissed 4 times by Hazlewood, averaging just 2.75.
- Suyash Sharma: 5 wickets vs PBKS in last 2 matches, predominantly bowling googlies.
- RCB openers average 47.42 runs per stand at over 10 runs per over.
Final Tactical Thoughts
- PBKS must overcome their struggles against short-pitched bowling from RCB’s potent seam attack.
- RCB should aggressively target Punjab’s weak fifth bowler overs.
- Shreyas Iyer needs to overcome his recent struggles against RCB’s disciplined bowling unit to provide stability.
- Arshdeep Singh’s early breakthroughs could significantly tip the scales in Punjab’s favor.
- Suyash Sharma’s spell will be crucial; Punjab’s management of left-right batting combos could prove decisive.
As the IPL prepares to crown a brand-new champion, both RCB and PBKS will need to execute their tactical plans meticulously. In a match likely to be decided by fine margins, the team handling key match-ups better will have the upper hand in Ahmedabad’s batting paradise.
