In a gripping IPL 2025 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) posted 190 for 9 after a fluctuating innings that saw bursts of aggression counterbalanced by prolonged lulls in scoring. Whether it will be enough against a power-packed Punjab Kings (PBKS) lineup remains to be seen.
RCB were buoyed at the start by opener Phil Salt, who had only just returned to India earlier in the day after the birth of his child. Jetlag was nowhere in sight as he blazed Arshdeep Singh for a six and four in the opening over, pulling two short balls cleanly. It seemed a calculated tactic from PBKS, deviating from Arshdeep’s usual full-length approach, but the early gamble didn’t pay off. Salt was eventually dismissed for 16 off 9, holing out to mid-on off Kyle Jamieson after hitting a similar delivery for four earlier in the over.
The pitch offered bounce and carry, setting up a tantalizing contest. Mayank Agarwal and Virat Kohli looked to build on Salt’s start, but struggled for fluency. Agarwal struck a few clean boundaries before falling to Yuzvendra Chahal, miscuing a sweep to deep backward square for 24 off 18. Kohli, meanwhile, played a more cautious knock, scoring 43 off 35 balls, focusing on control rather than acceleration. He was eventually dismissed attempting to pull Azmatullah Omarzai, who sprinted and dived to complete an outstanding catch at midwicket.
Rajat Patidar provided a brief spark, clubbing 26 off 16 including a six off Chahal, but fell to Jamieson’s clever pace variation, trapped lbw by a dipping legcutter. Following his dismissal, RCB endured 13 deliveries without a boundary as PBKS’s slower-ball barrage took hold, led by Vijaykumar Vyshak and Chahal.
Despite wickets falling steadily, Jitesh Sharma gave RCB a much-needed boost with an inventive cameo. Displaying fearless strokeplay, he opened up the off side, ramped over the keeper, and hit straight sixes in quick succession. Together with Liam Livingstone, he helped take 36 runs off overs 16 and 17. Livingstone perished soon after, but the momentum briefly returned to RCB.
Vyshak’s 18th over halted the surge — he conceded just five runs and bowled Jitesh Sharma with a skiddy short ball. Omarzai followed with a strong 19th over, using the pitch again, before conceding a six to Romario Shepherd off the final delivery. The innings ended with a top-class over from Arshdeep, who redeemed his expensive start with three wickets, including Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, all falling in the final over.
RCB ended on 190 for 9, a total that could prove competitive if their bowlers can replicate PBKS’s grip on the middle overs. But with dew potentially settling in and a quick outfield, the final may still tilt in Punjab’s favor — unless RCB’s bowlers can summon one final effort in a tournament where margins have been slim and moments, decisive.