Deep: It is highly satisfying to see both RCB and PBKs in the final. not just because it will ensure a new champion, but rather for the fact that both RCB and PBKs have been the most balanced teams across all departments out of all teams.
For most of these last 10 years, Punjab Kings have finished just outside the playoffs, missing it by the margin of one win here and there. It was Pollard’s ballistic knock that denied them in 2019, it was Mayank Agarwal holing out in the deep against DC with two runs were needed on opening day in 2020, it was Kartik Tyagi defending 4 runs off the last over against them in 2021 and it was Rahul Tewatia’s two balls two sixes in 2022. From a wrongly judged ‘short run’ in a 1 run loss in 2020 to Maxwell’s boundary that landed on the wrong side in a 2 run defeat against KKR, Punjab Kings have often had the wrong end of the stick. But this time around, the air around Punjab seems to be changing. The bottlers of the past have become the braggarts of today, and a new coach and captain have dared this franchise to dream once again. The Cindrella Men of the IPL are one game away from scripting a sweet end to their fairytale…
Maybe marriages aren’t the only thing made in heaven. Maybe certain coach-captains duos are also pre-ordained from the almighty to take some underperforming teams towards the cusp of excellence. The Ponting-Iyer coach-captain partnership is one step away from tasting glory. The duo led DC to the finals of 2020 but they couldn’t cross the final hurdle. The stars have aligned for Punjab this season. Iyer’s charismatic enigma and flair on the field and Ponting’s astute man-management skills off the field make them a perfect amalgamation. Shreyas Iyer expressed how Ricky Ponting makes him feel like the ‘best batter in the world’, and based purely on this IPL, many would believe that Shreyas has been ‘the best batter in the world.’ But it’s not just a two man show. Ricky and Shreyas have with them an arsenal of prodigious uncapped stars, two talismanic India bowlers who have largely flown under the radar and a bunch of Aussies for whom ‘clutch’ could be their middle name. With these band of brothers, Punjab Kings march along with a dream of conquering their Mount Olympus. It was a gutsy dream. It was a dream dared to be dreamt in a land of nightmares.
Ponting-Iyer combo to break the jinx for PBKS?
Good news for RCB: Phil Salt is back in Ahmedabad after going home earlier for the birth of his child
When Rajat Patidar was announced as the skipper ahead of the season, a section of the fans were left in a state of uncertainty. Maybe it's the slight tension of transition, or the erstwhile legends that captained the side before, or the enormity of the brand in general. Not too many would have believed that this day would have been possible at the start of the season. But that is T20 cricket for you "Sometimes in life there is only one chance , and I had a feeling that was mine and I wasn't gonna let that slip," were the exact words of Alexander Bublik after beating the fifth-seed Jack Draper in the 4th round of French Open yesterday. Is today the day for Patidar where he can also feel something similar to Bublik? Surely, there will be a lot of pressure given the franchise's history and reputation but expect Patidar, who is known to have a head as calm as cucumber, to handle it quite professionally.
AaaaaaRRR Ceeee Beeee. AaaaaaRRR Ceeee Beeee. They aren't just the casual sporting chants. It's the anthem of one of the biggest sporting brands in the world. Highs of highs. Lows of lows. They have been through it all. The anticipation, unruly mocking, nervous energy, points table permutations and combinations - you name it. RCB and their fans have seen it all. Today evening provides them a splendid opportunity to bury the ghosts of the past. Whether it is the magic of Andy Flower, or the tactical genius of DK, or the incredible talent-hunting Mo Bobat, they have managed to puzzle the pieces together this season and the results are there for everyone to see. No-one knows the magnitude of today's occasion more than one man who has been associated with this franchise since its inception. Virat Kohli. After crushing PBKS in Qualifier one, Virat Kohli gestured to someone in the stands indicating 'one more to go'. You could clearly sense that his focus was firmly fixed on the final. And that moment has finally arrived. Can Kohli and Co. deliver to send their fans into a frenzy?
Will the wait finally end for Kohli and RCB?
Incidentally, it was these two captains who faced off in the Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy final late last year, and Iyer's Mumbai team came out on top. However, so far this season, Patidar's RCB have had the edge over PBKS, leading 2-1, including a thumping win in the first Qualifier. But Iyer has already ensured to point out how this will be a "different wicket" compared to that game. Indeed, the final will be played on the same pitch where PBKS started their campaign and smashed a total of 243 against the Gujarat Titans. In contrast, RCB haven't played a single match at this venue so far. The pitch in question will be a mixture of black and red soil, and six of the eight matches have been won by the team batting first in Ahmedabad.
PBKS have been in one IPL final before, while RCB have been in three. In 18 seasons, PBKS have had 17 different captains, while RCB have had 9. No wonder then that both Shreyas Iyer and Rajat Patidar are going to be viewed very differently irrespective of what happens tonight. They've come in and had immediate success, leading two of the most underperforming sides in IPL history to the top two spots in the league table. Incidentally, it was these two who faced off in the Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy final late last year, and Iyer's Mumbai team came out on top. However, so far this season, Patidar's RCB have had the edge over PBKS, leading 2-1 over them, including a thumping win in the first Qualifier. But Iyer has already ensured to point out how this will be a "different wicket" compared to that game. Indeed, the final will be played on the same pitch where PBKS started their campaign and smashed a total of 243 against the Gujarat Titans. In contrast, RCB haven't played a single match at this venue so far. The pitch in question will be a mixture of black and red soil, and six of the eight matches have been won by the team batting first in Ahmedabad.
5.35pm local: 17 years. 17 loooong, painful, agonising, trophyless years. Legends have come and gone, generations of fans have learnt how to cope, but the title has remained a distant dream. Not anymore, though. RCB and PBKS are one step away from making it their reality as they go head to head in Ahmedabad this evening. If ever there was all to play for, it's here. Winning will change everything, while losing will feel familiar but worse than before. At the end of the day, the IPL will crown a new champion and won't that be a moment for the ages. Join us then as we get going for one final time this season - one which has thrown up surprises, new stars and two captains who are on the cusp of doing something very special for their respective teams.
17:30 local, 12:00 GMT:
Preview by Vijay Tagore
Shreyas Iyer and Rajat Patidar are like fire and water - one thrives on aggression, the other oozes calm. Yet both are remarkably effective as leaders, leading the two best teams of the season. IPL 18 couldn't have asked for a more fitting showdown than a Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru face-off in its grand finale.
On the eve of the match at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Iyer, true to himself, ratcheted up the rhetoric. He spoke of 'fight,' 'war,' and 'taking the bull by the horns.' Patidar, by contrast, sought to play down the build-up with a calm and restrained demeanour. He seemed to think of 100 words, settle on 20, and ultimately speak just 12.
"See, when you are on the field, it's all about rivalry," Iyer, fresh from a breathtaking knock in the semifinal, thundered on the eve of the final. "It's not about comfort at all. When you step on to the field, you are at a war. And you fight to win.
"So, I will put in everything. And I will give in everything to see to it that my team wins." Patidar responded stating, "If I say (talk) about Punjab, I think they are playing a tremendous amount of cricket in this league. And the way they are playing, I think it will be a challenge for us in the next game." Possibly the mildest take on the final.
Amped up rhetoric - or the lack of it - aside, the last encounter between these two sides was a one-sided affair, with RCB demolishing PBKS by eight wickets to book their place in the final. Punjab had to take a detour via Qualifier 2 to reach there. Now, there may be a case of Punjab holding the edge, propelled by the momentum of an imperious five-wicket win over the Mumbai Indians - especially after Iyer's sublime batting on Sunday night.
Punjab often play with close to six uncapped players - two in the beginning (Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya), two in the middle (Shashank Singh and Nehal Wadhera) and two more in the end (Vijaykumar Vyshak and Harpreet Brar - in place of Yuzvendra Chahal). It's a tribute to the leadership of Iyer and head coach Ricky Ponting that they managed to inspire a bunch of unheralded players to give their best. How these six handle the RCB bowlers (Josh Hazlewood and Suyash Sharma) and batters (Virat Kohli and Phil Salt) could determine the outcome of the final.
On the other hand, RCB may not openly admit it, but the Kohli angle is set to dominate the final. His wait for an IPL trophy has stretched over 18 years, and this might just be his best chance to finally add the elusive title to his collection. Those close to him say he is desirous, not desperate, for the IPL glory. Yet Kohli - the RCB talisman and arguably the league's biggest star - has never hidden how deeply he yearns for it, nor how much he regrets the missed opportunities, especially in 2016, the last time RCB had reached the final.
Will he finally end the trophy drought, or will the wait continue? That is the central point of the IPL 18 final narrative but the biggest of all is that the IPL will have new winners.
When: Tuesday, June 3 at 7:30 PM IST
Where: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
What to expect: The centre wicket of the colossal Narendra Modi Stadium will be used for the final, ensuring equal dimensions on both sides of the strip. It is a mixed-soil pitch, and the last time it was used - for the GT vs PBKS clash on March 25 - it yielded over 470 runs. Barring any unexpected rain, there's little reason to believe Tuesday's script will be any different.
Head-to-Head: It is even-stevens between the two sides, with the head-to-head record locked at 18 wins each. At the Narendra Modi Stadium, PBKS have beaten RCB in the one game they've played against each other here. However, RCB hold a clear recent advantage, having beaten PBKS in five of their last six encounters since 2023.
Teams Watch
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Injuries/Unavailability: There is uncertainty over the availability of Tim David but rest of the players are available for the match.
Tactics & Match-ups: Virat Kohli has an average of 36 (1116 from 35 games) against PBKS but in the recent times, he has had stupendous success, averaging 62.5 runs (375 runs from eight games). In bowling, Josh Hazlewood will be the thorn in the PBKS flesh, having taken 12 wickets in five play-off games. A truly big match player.
Injuries/Unavailability: Yuzvendra Chahal is a doubtful starter but PBKS have a good back-up in Harpreet Brat. Rest of the Punjab players are available.
Tactics & Match-ups: Punjab's young openers, Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya - otherwise one of the breakout combinations of the season - have failed in their last two outings. The team will hope the law of averages works in their favour, and the duo fires when it matters most. Shreyas Iyer, meanwhile, has played two commanding unbeaten innings (97* and 87*) at this venue this season. PBKS will be counting on their captain to rise to the occasion, one final time.
- Arshdeep's form has nosedived after the break. He has gone wicketless in four of his last five outings. His record vs RCB (eight wickets from 10 games) and at the venue (three wickets from four games) don't make a great reading either
- Rajat Patidar had a flying start to the season, but couldn't quite build on thereafter - 161 runs in the first four games and then 125 in the next nine innings
- Shreyas Iyer has been dismissed four times in six IPL innings by Josh Hazlewood and has scored only 11 off 22 against the Aussie pacer
This is just the second time in these 15 years that neither of the two IPL finalists have won a trophy previously. The last instance was 2016 (RCB vs SRH)
What they said
I would just like to say that we are on a different wicket right now. And definitely they have been bowling very well throughout. It's important to adapt as quickly as possible. And see to it that you are up for the challenge. And take the bulls by the horns - PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer on RCB's bowling attack
I have always tried to create a good environment for every player, who has come from a domestic background or international experience... they both feel the same - RCB skipper Rajat Patidar on his captaincy
Squads:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Squad: Philip Salt, Virat Kohli, Mayank Agarawal, Rajat Patidar(c), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma(w), Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma, Rasikh Dar Salam, Manoj Bhandage, Tim Seifert, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Blessing Muzarabani, Nuwan Thushara, Mohit Rathee, Swastik Chikara, Abhinandan Singh
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Punjab Kings
