RCB and Punjab Kings’ hunt for maiden IPL title  

Betting Odds

Our Predictions 

• Josh Hazlewood has odds of 2.75 to be RCB's best bowler 
• Arshdeep Singh has odds of 2.87 to be Punjab Kings' best bowler 
• Royal Challengers Bengaluru has odds of 1.80 to be the top batter’s team 
• Punjab Kings have odds of 1.92 to be the top batter’s team 

MATCH PREVIEW     

It is the title decider in the Indian Premier League 2025, and at the end of the game, we will have a new champion. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru will be up against the Punjab Kings as both teams seek their maiden title. The Royal Challengers smashed the Punjab Kings in the 1st Qualifier, and the team will gain confidence in that win. Their batting lineup has been excellent this season, and the side will start the game with slightly higher odds. The Punjab Kings defeated the Mumbai Indians in the 2nd Qualifier, and the side regained momentum. There will be nerves in both camps as they won’t like to lose this game, and we expect a thrilling contest to crown the next IPL champion.  

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Preview     

Rajat Patidar and his men put up a clinical performance in the 1st Qualifier. In a game where they dominated from the start, the team defeated the Punjab Kings by 8 wickets. As they face the same team in the final, Patidar would like his men to draw inspiration from the last game and win the title after losing three finals in the past. Their batting form gives them higher odds on cricket betting sites, and the team will look to live up to the expectations.  

Virat Kohli has made 614 runs this season, forming a strong partnership with Philip Salt. The pair will look to deliver a strong start. Mayank Agarwal must anchor the innings in the middle order and add runs with Rajat Patidar and Liam Livingstone. The side has depth in the batting lineup and shall expect a good show in the lower middle order from Jitesh Sharma, Krunal Pandya, and Romario Shepherd.  

The bowling attack will draw inspiration from his performance in the last game. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Yash Dayal must strike early as PBKS has a strong top order. Josh Hazlewood has been the star bowler for the team with 20 wickets, and he looks to do well in the middle overs with Suyash Sharma. Romario Shepherd and Krunal Pandya add variety to the attack and shall look to deliver the goods.   

Expected Starting XI for Royal Challengers Bengaluru     

Rajat Patidar (c), Virat Kohli, Philip Salt, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma, Mayank Agarwal (Impact Player)  

Punjab Kings Preview     

Shreyas Iyer will be confident heading into this game. The team faced a lot of criticism after their loss against RCB in the 1st Qualifier. They looked different against the Mumbai Indians in the 2nd Qualifier, winning by 5 wickets with the captain leading from the front. They will start with lower odds on cricket betting apps, and Iyer would look to defy that and win his second title as skipper in two years with a strong show from his players.  

Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh have made more than 1000 runs this season. The pair have struggled in the last two games and must deliver a strong start. Shreyas Iyer played a match-winning knock in the last game and shall look to build partnerships with Josh Inglis and Nehal Wadhera in the middle order. The team expects quick runs from Marcus Stoinis and Shashank Singh in the lower middle order.  

Arshdeep Singh has been the team's leading wicket-taker this season, but the rest of the bowlers have struggled with consistency. Singg must grab early wickets with Kyle Jamieson to rock the RCB boat. Stoinis and Azmatullah Omarzai must improve their line and lengths as they have looked ordinary in the last two games. The side will need a good show in the supporting role from Vijaykumar Vyshak and Yuzvendra Chahal.  

Expected Starting XI for Punjab Kings     

Shreyas Iyer (c), Priyansh Arya, Josh Inglis (wk), Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis, Shashank Singh, Azmatullah Omarzai, Kyle Jamieson, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Prabhsimran Singh (Impact Player)  

TOSS: To Bat First      

The team batting first has won in six out of eight games at this venue this season. The wicket was good to bat on at the start, but it slowed down slightly in the second half. Both teams will take a cue from past results, look to bat first, and put up a big total on the board.  

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS      

The forecast is for slightly overcast skies over Ahmedabad. We expect a flat surface where batsmen can play their strokes freely. Bowlers will have a tough time on this track and must bowl in the right areas. The side batting first will need 220 runs on the board to feel confident.   

OUR PREDICTION      

The Punjab Kings will be worried about their bowling. Barring Arshdeep Singh, no bowlers have threatened the batsmen in this tournament. As they take on one of the strongest batting lineups in the tournament, the side will need a good show from its bowlers to win their maiden title. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru have their top order in good form, and the bowlers add the X-factor for the team. It will be a close game, but RCB will start favorites, according to our cricket betting tips.   

Our prediction is for Royal Challengers Bengaluru to win