In what promises to be a high-octane finale, Punjab Kings won the toss and elected to bowl against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. On a hard, flat surface with a mix of 25% black soil and 75% red soil, both sides are bracing for a batting-heavy encounter. Despite recent statistics showing that six out of eight matches on this pitch have been won by teams batting first, both captains preferred to chase, backing their bowling units under pressure.
Rajat Patidar, leading RCB, acknowledged the good batting surface but expressed confidence in his team’s consistency. “Till now we’ve played well, it’s just another game for us. We’ll give it our best,” he said. Shreyas Iyer, at the helm for PBKS, exuded calm and positivity. “I want to say it’s just another game, but it’s a final—we’re gonna play it like a final,” he remarked, already visualizing his team lifting the trophy.
RCB named an unchanged XI, continuing with the explosive top order of Phil Salt and Virat Kohli, with Mayank Agarwal and Patidar anchoring the middle. The absence of Tim David continues, with Romario Shepherd and Krunal Pandya tasked with finishing duties. Suyash Sharma is the most likely Impact Player, with Seifert, Rasikh Dar, Bhandage, and Swapnil Singh rounding out the bench.
PBKS too went in with an unchanged side, despite Xavier Bartlett marking his run-up pre-match. Harpreet Brar was left out once again. The XI features Priyansh Arya and captain Shreyas Iyer at the top, supported by Josh Inglis, Nehal Wadhera, and the in-form Shashank Singh. Marcus Stoinis, Omarzai, and Kyle Jamieson form the core of the all-rounder and pace battery, while Yuzvendra Chahal and Arshdeep Singh will lead the spin and pace departments respectively. Prabhsimran Singh is expected to be the likely Impact substitute.
The pitch—described by Michael Clarke as an “absolute belter”—is expected to favor batters throughout the evening. Square boundaries measure 64 meters, while it’s 72 meters down the ground, making timing and execution key for bowlers under lights. Clarke emphasized that 200 may not be a winning score, and bowlers will need to vary pace and hit the back-of-length areas smartly.
With electrifying crowd support, particularly strong for RCB, the atmosphere is set for a thrilling contest. As the stage is set and emotions run high, both teams aim to keep calm and execute under pressure, knowing that tonight’s game is not just another match—it’s the final.