IPL 2025 Final: Key Matchups That Could Determine The Champions

The stage is set for one final showdown to determine the new IPL champion, as Ahmedabad gears up for an electrifying clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings — arguably the two most well-rounded teams this season. Known for its batting-friendly conditions, the Ahmedabad pitch has consistently produced high-scoring encounters.

The IPL final will be played on the central wicket, a blend of red and black soil, which has already witnessed 11 scores exceeding 200 across eight matches. In all but one instance, teams batting first have surpassed the 200-run mark — the only exception falling just four runs short. Notably, the only IPL game played on this specific strip saw Punjab Kings post a mammoth 243/5, which they successfully defended with an 11-run win. This will be RCB’s first outing in Ahmedabad this season.

Batting first has generally been the winning formula here, with six of the eight IPL matches going in favour of the side setting a target. The only successful chase in a night game came during the second IPL Qualifier. Punjab Kings have shown a preference for batting first, having done so five times after winning the toss — the most by any of the IPL teams — and boasting a 5-4 record in completed matches.

However, with their bowling attack appearing less potent lately, they might lean towards chasing, as they did in their recent game against Mumbai Indians. On the other hand, RCB have been the most efficient chasing team this season, winning six out of the seven matches where they batted second. And, both teams know well: while batting fireworks may grab the headlines, it will be the nuanced player matchups that tip the scales in this much-anticipated IPL 2025 final.

Can Punjab’s Aggressive Top Order Withstand RCB’s Relentless Seamers?

Punjab’s success this IPL season has largely hinged on their explosive top order, which includes three of their highest run-scorers along with mid-season addition Josh Inglis — all maintaining strike rates above 160. However, their Achilles’ heel has been Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who have consistently dismantled their top order, reducing them to 53/4, 76/4, and 38/4 in their three meetings.

RCB have emerged as the most effective new-ball bowling unit in the IPL, with their success rooted in a relentless short-of-length and back-of-length strategy. According to data logs, RCB pacers have taken 13 wickets at an average of 22.53 and a strike rate of 17.3 balls per wicket from these lengths — the best Powerplay performance by any pace attack this season. Conversely, Punjab have struggled badly against such deliveries, losing 18 wickets while averaging 22.22 and a dismissal every 14.2 balls — placing them among the weakest in this phase.

Individually, Prabhsimran Singh has found it particularly difficult to counter hard lengths, falling to back-of-length or shorter deliveries six times this season. He also has a poor record against Bhuvneshwar Kumar, having been dismissed five times in T20s, including twice in IPL 2025. Priyansh Arya tends to play across the line, a habit that has cost him dearly — he has been dismissed six times attempting such strokes. Meanwhile, Josh Inglis has struggled against Josh Hazlewood’s steep bounce, falling twice in six deliveries, both times caught in the deep.

Pace units operating on hard lengths during the Powerplay

Batting units’ performance against back-of-length and shorter deliveries in the Powerplay

Shreyas Iyer’s Struggle Against RCB: The Unlucky Streak Continues

Shreyas Iyer, known for his golden touch, has turned almost everything he’s faced into success. His IPL record in Ahmedabad is outstanding—scoring 242 runs in three innings without being dismissed, at an impressive strike rate of 226.17. However, this Tuesday, he faces his toughest challenge yet: Royal Challengers Bengaluru, his bogey team this IPL season. Against RCB, he has managed scores of just 7, 6, and 2, with the first being his only dismissal below 30 outside New Chandigarh.

RCB’s bowling attack has repeatedly troubled Iyer, with their four seamers combining to dismiss him nine times in just 85 balls, conceding only 73 runs. Josh Hazlewood has been especially tormenting, dismissing the Punjab captain four times in just 22 deliveries—two of those dismissals coming in IPL 2025. Meanwhile, Krunal Pandya has also been effective, restricting Iyer to 43 runs off 51 balls for one dismissal. With an average of only 24.75 and four dismissals in the Powerplay this season, RCB will be eager to send Iyer back early once again.

Shreyas H2H vs RCB bowlers in T20s

Suyash Sharma’s Duel with Punjab’s Middle Order

Suyash Sharma emerged as the latest RCB star to claim the Player of the Match award, thanks to his impressive performance in the first IPL Qualifier. Of his eight wickets this season, five have come in the last two matches against Punjab. By bowling flatter, faster deliveries and targeting the stumps, he has secured all five dismissals against Punjab through bowled or LBW. Suyash has been particularly effective against right-handers, claiming seven of his eight wickets in IPL 2025 from batsmen maintaining a solid economy rate of 8.01.

Marcus Stoinis has been deceived twice by his wrong ones, and Shashank Singh once, making it likely that RCB will use him for an over or two during the later stages of the innings. Punjab, however, can counter this threat with Nehal Wadhera, who has scored 25 runs off 16 balls against the leg-spinner. Suyash has generally struggled against left-handers this season, averaging a high 19.6 with an economy rate of 9.96.

Arshdeep Singh’s Key New Ball Challenge Against RCB’s Openers

Opening partnerships have played a vital role in RCB’s success in IPL 2025, accumulating 664 runs at an average of 47.42 and a strike rate of 10.29 per over, featuring seven 50+ stands in 14 matches. However, when both openers have fallen within the first seven overs—an occurrence that happened four times this season—RCB ended up losing three of those games.

Arshdeep Singh has been particularly effective against Phil Salt, dismissing him four times in six T20 innings this year, with each dismissal coming from short, angled deliveries outside off-stump to the right-hander. Salt has struggled against left-arm seamers early in his innings (first ten balls), averaging just 15.33 this season. Virat Kohli’s numbers against Arshdeep are better — 100 runs from 57 balls with two dismissals — though both his early IPL 2025 dismissals came to left-arm seamers bowling short of back-of-length, including one against Arshdeep in Bengaluru.

Despite this, Arshdeep has struggled to find form after the season’s restart, going wicketless in four of five games and conceding runs at 10.39 per over. Notably, his last ten Powerplay overs have yielded 109 runs without a wicket. Punjab will be aiming to break through one or both of RCB’s openers early to expose their middle order to spin under increasing run-rate pressure.

Targeting Punjab’s Fifth Bowler Dilemma

Punjab’s strategy this season in the IPL has heavily relied on aggressive batting to set par-plus totals or chase down challenging targets, making batting depth essential in their lineup. With Marco Jansen unavailable for the Playoffs, Punjab has had to fill the fifth bowler’s role using their batting all-rounders, as none of their specialist bowlers contribute significantly with the bat.

In 42 overs bowled by Punjab’s seam-bowling all-rounders—excluding Jansen—they have claimed only eight wickets, three of which came in the IPL Qualifier 2, while leaking runs at a costly 11.53 per over. Azmatullah Omarzai and Marcus Stoinis can be dangerous if the new ball swings, but Ahmedabad’s pitch has shown little movement this season. This lack of swing could complicate skipper Shreyas Iyer’s task in deploying these bowlers effectively, especially if RCB’s top order remains intact during the early stages of the innings.

Vyshak or Brar: Punjab’s Dilemma Against RCB’s Right-Hand Heavy Lineup

Punjab faces a crucial selection decision ahead of the IPL 2025 final: whether to field Vyshak Vijaykumar as the specialist third seamer or opt for Harpreet Brar, who has historically troubled RCB—especially given their predominantly right-handed batting lineup. Chahal has been particularly effective against right-handers this season, claiming 12 of his 15 wickets at a strike rate of 12.1 and an economy rate of 8.01.

He has dismissed Mayank Agarwal seven times in 55 balls and Jitesh Sharma four times in 39 balls, while also keeping key batsmen like Kohli, Krunal, and Liam Livingstone under wraps. Tim Seifert stands out as an exception with a strong record against Chahal, scoring 78 runs off 37 balls without getting out, though their last encounter was back in 2021. However, it seems unlikely that Seifert will make the playing XI over Livingstone.

Despite Brar and Chahal’s past success against RCB’s batsmen, RCB remains one of the toughest lineups to bowl to for these styles. They average 40.29 and score at 149.56 against leg spin and left-arm orthodox combined—the fourth best in the tournament—even though left-handers face only 21.6% of the balls against these bowlers, the lowest proportion among all teams. .

Phil Salt has been explosive, striking at 196, punishing anything slightly short with aggressive back-foot play. Kohli is also prepared to go for the slog or slog sweep if the length is marginally off, with 62% of his runs coming on the on-side. Furthermore, each of RCB’s middle-order batsmen boasts a strike rate above 150, indicating this contest won’t be as one-sided as it once was.

RCB batters vs Punjab’s spin duo in T20

Read More: IPL 2025 Final: PBKS vs RCB Preview, Prediction, Starting XI and Where to Watch the Match LIVE?

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