RCB has reached the finals three times before, while PBKS has made it to the final only once.
For the first time since 2016, the IPL will see a new champion after Punjab Kings defeated Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2 on Sunday night in Ahmedabad. This victory sets up a final match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Both teams are still looking for their first IPL title. The final is scheduled for Tuesday, June 3, also in Ahmedabad.
This will be RCB’s fourth appearance in an IPL final. They have finished as runners-up in 2009, 2011, and 2016 against Deccan Chargers, Chennai Super Kings, and Sunrisers Hyderabad, respectively.
On the other hand, PBKS has only been in one previous final, back in 2014 when they were called Kings XI Punjab and lost to Kolkata Knight Riders. That 2014 season was also their only playoff appearance since that format started in 2011.
Their captain Shreyas Iyer is notable for being the first player to lead three different teams to the finals: he captained Delhi Capitals in the 2020 final and guided KKR to victory in 2024.
Both PBKS and RCB finished at the top of the league stage with nine wins, four losses, and one no-result each out of 14 games. Their net run rates were also very close. While PBKS managed to defeat RCB in Bengaluru, RCB claimed victory in their matchup held in Mullanpur.
On May 29, in Mullanpur, RCB faced PBKS in Qualifier 1. RCB bowled out PBKS for just 101 runs and won the match with ten overs left, securing their spot in the final. Meanwhile, PBKS headed to Ahmedabad to take on MI in Qualifier 2. They managed to defeat MI again within a week, earning their place in the final as well.
