IPL 2025 Final Match 74th: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Punjab Kings or Mumbai Indians – Pre-Match Analysis, Key Players & Winner Prediction
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 has reached its grand finale, with the IPL 2025 Final Match 74th scheduled at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on June 3, 2025, at 7:30 PM IST. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have secured their spot in the final after a dominant 8-wicket win over Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Qualifier 1. The big question remains: who will face RCB in this high-stakes clash—Punjab Kings (PBKS) or Mumbai Indians (MI)? With PBKS and MI battling in Qualifier 2 on June 1, this IPL 2025 Final Match Pre-Match Analysis explores the squads, player performances, venue insights, and predictions, including the likely Player of the Match, the most impactful bowler, and whether the team batting first or second holds the advantage. This analysis assumes both possible opponents, PBKS and MI, and predicts the likely winner based on current form and historical data from ESPNcricinfo and X posts.
Match Overview: IPL 2025 Final Match 74th
- Teams: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Punjab Kings or Mumbai Indians
- Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
- Date & Time: June 3, 2025, 7:30 PM IST
- Live Streaming: Star Sports Network (TV), JioHotstar (online)
- Stakes: The winner lifts the IPL 2025 trophy, with RCB chasing their first title, PBKS seeking their maiden championship, and MI aiming for a record sixth crown.
Playoff Journey and Qualifier 2 Prediction
RCB stormed into the final with an 8-wicket victory over PBKS in Qualifier 1 on May 29, 2025, at Mullanpur, chasing 102 in just 10 overs, led by Phil Salt’s 54* and Josh Hazlewood’s 3 wickets. PBKS now face MI in Qualifier 2 on June 1 in Ahmedabad, with the winner earning the right to challenge RCB. MI advanced by defeating Gujarat Titans in the Eliminator on May 30, a 20-run victory driven by Suryakumar Yadav’s batting and Jasprit Bumrah’s bowling.
Qualifier 2 Prediction: PBKS are favored to edge out MI in Qualifier 2, based on their top-table finish (19 points, NRR +0.372) and a 7-wicket win over MI in their last league match on May 26. PBKS’s batting depth, led by Prabhsimran Singh, and Arshdeep Singh’s bowling give them a slight advantage over MI’s inconsistent middle order, despite MI’s playoff experience and Bumrah’s form. This analysis assumes PBKS as the likely finalist but also covers MI’s potential impact.
Points Table Recap
- RCB: Finished second with 19 points (9 wins, 5 losses, NRR +0.480), securing a top-two spot with a 6-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants.
- PBKS: Topped the league with 19 points (9 wins, 4 losses, NRR +0.372), highlighted by a 16-run win over RR and a 7-wicket victory over MI.
- MI: Secured fourth place with 14 points (7 wins, 7 losses, NRR +0.974), clinching their playoff spot with a 59-run win over Delhi Capitals.
Squad Information
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Squad
- Probable XI: Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Rajat Patidar (c), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma
- Impact Players: Mayank Agarwal, Rasikh Salam, Manoj Bhandage, Tim Seifert, Swapnil Singh
- Key Notes: Josh Hazlewood’s return has been a game-changer, with 3 wickets in Qualifier 1. Tim David’s hamstring injury limits his bowling, but his batting remains potent. Devdutt Padikkal is unavailable, with Mayank Agarwal stepping in.
Punjab Kings Squad
- Probable XI: Shreyas Iyer (c), Prabhsimran Singh, Josh Inglis (wk), Shashank Singh, Nehal Wadhera, Azmatullah Omarzai, Musheer Khan, Harpreet Brar, Kartik Tyagi, Arshdeep Singh, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Kagiso Rabada
- Impact Players: Glenn Maxwell, Suryansh Shedge, Pravin Dubey, Nikhil Chaudhary, Xavier Bartlett
- Key Notes: PBKS are without Marco Jansen (national duty) and Yuzvendra Chahal (injury). Kagiso Rabada’s potential return strengthens their pace attack, while Azmatullah Omarzai’s all-round skills add depth.
Mumbai Indians Squad
- Probable XI: Rohit Sharma, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Charith Asalanka, Hardik Pandya (c), Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah, Karn Sharma
- Impact Players: Reece Topley, Robin Minz, Raj Bawa, Ashwani Kumar
- Key Notes: MI rely on Suryakumar Yadav’s form and Bumrah’s bowling. Jonny Bairstow replaces Ryan Rickelton, and Charith Asalanka’s inclusion adds spin-playing ability.
Venue Analysis: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
- Pitch Report: Ahmedabad’s pitch is balanced, with an average first-innings score of 175 in IPL 2025. It offers early swing for pacers like Hazlewood, Bumrah, and Arshdeep, but becomes batsman-friendly, favoring big scores (180-200). Boundaries are 61m (square) and 75m (straight), encouraging aerial shots.
- Weather: Clear skies are forecast for June 3, with temperatures around 32°C and minimal dew, ensuring a fair contest without significant chasing advantage.
- Toss Advantage: Teams batting first have won 4 of 7 matches at Ahmedabad this season, suggesting a slight edge for setting a target. The Kookaburra ball offers early movement, but the pitch flattens out, making 180-190 defendable.
Player Performance Analysis
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Key Players
- Virat Kohli Performance: Kohli’s 614 runs (average ~51, strike rate ~140) include a match-winning 73* against PBKS earlier and a 35 in Qualifier 1. His ability to anchor chases or build big totals makes him a top Player of the Match candidate. He struggles against Arshdeep Singh (dismissed twice in 15 balls) but dominates MI’s spinners.
- Phil Salt Performance: Salt’s 27-ball 56 in Qualifier 1 (fastest fifty in IPL 2025 playoffs) and 46 off 25 against RR highlight his explosive form. His duel with Arshdeep (PBKS) or Bumrah (MI) will be crucial, with a slight edge against MI’s pace.
- Josh Hazlewood Performance: With 18 wickets (average ~16, economy ~7.50), Hazlewood’s 3/17 in Qualifier 1 dismantled PBKS. His hard-length bowling suits Ahmedabad’s bounce, making him a prime most dismissable bowler candidate against both PBKS and MI.
- Suyash Sharma Performance: The legspinner’s 3/17 in Qualifier 1, targeting stumps with googlies, troubled PBKS. His economy (8.00) may be tested against MI’s Suryakumar Yadav, but he remains a key weapon.
Punjab Kings Key Players
- Prabhsimran Singh Performance: PBKS’s top scorer with ~600 runs (average ~40, strike rate ~150), Prabhsimran’s 85 against LSG and 19 in Qualifier 1 show his intent. His aggressive starts could counter RCB’s pacers, but Hazlewood dismissed him early in Qualifier 1, making this a key battle. A big knock could earn him Player of the Match.
- Shreyas Iyer Performance: PBKS’s captain has 514 runs (strike rate ~171.90) but struggled in Mullanpur (25 runs in 4 innings). His 31 against RCB earlier and vulnerability to Hazlewood (3 dismissals in 19 balls) are concerns, but his leadership keeps PBKS competitive.
- Arshdeep Singh Performance: With 16 wickets (average ~18, economy ~8.00), Arshdeep’s record-breaking 86 IPL wickets for PBKS and dismissals of Kohli make him a contender for most dismissable bowler. His powerplay bowling will test RCB’s openers.
- Azmatullah Omarzai Performance: The all-rounder’s 3 wickets and quick 30s add balance. His pace could trouble RCB’s middle order, but his batting faces RCB’s spinners.
Mumbai Indians Key Players
- Suryakumar Yadav Performance: MI’s top batter with 640 runs (average ~45, strike rate ~150), Suryakumar’s 35 against GT in the Eliminator shows his clutch ability. His form against RCB’s spinners (117 runs off 77 balls vs Rashid Khan) makes him a Player of the Match contender if MI qualifies.
- Jasprit Bumrah Performance: With 18 wickets (average ~16, economy ~7.50), Bumrah’s reverse swing and yorkers make him a strong most dismissable bowler candidate. His dismissals of RCB’s top order (e.g., Kohli once in 12 balls) could be decisive.
- Hardik Pandya Performance: MI’s captain has 200 runs and 8 wickets but struggles against RCB’s spinners (dismissed twice by Suyash). His leadership and bowling will be key if MI reaches the final.
- Tilak Varma Performance: Struggling with ~20 average, Tilak’s form dip against pace (dismissed twice by Hazlewood) could limit MI’s middle-order impact, making early wickets crucial.
Head-to-Head Record
RCB vs PBKS
- Total Matches: 34
- RCB Wins: 18
- PBKS Wins: 16
- Key Match: In Qualifier 1 (May 29, 2025), RCB chased 102 in 10 overs, with Salt’s 54* and Hazlewood’s 3 wickets sealing an 8-wicket win. RCB have won 3 of 5 matches at neutral venues like Ahmedabad.
RCB vs MI
- Total Matches: 35
- MI Wins: 20
- RCB Wins: 15
- Key Match: RCB’s last win over MI was a 7-wicket chase of 155 in April 2025, with Kohli’s 50 leading the way. MI’s playoff experience (5 titles) gives them an edge in finals.
Pitch and Tactical Insights
- Pitch Report: Ahmedabad’s pitch favors batsmen, with 180-200 being par. Early swing aids pacers like Hazlewood, Bumrah, and Arshdeep, but the surface flattens, benefiting big hitters like Salt, Prabhsimran, and Suryakumar.
- Batting First vs Second: Teams batting first have won 4 of 7 matches at Ahmedabad, suggesting a slight advantage for setting a target. Minimal dew ensures defending 190+ is feasible, but chasing is viable if early wickets are avoided.
- Duke Impression: The IPL uses Kookaburra balls, not Duke, but early swing mimics Duke-like conditions for 3-4 overs, favoring pacers. The pitch later suits batsmen, reducing bowling advantages.
- Tactical Key: RCB’s strategy hinges on Kohli and Salt building a 100+ powerplay, with Hazlewood targeting early wickets. PBKS need Prabhsimran and Shashank to counter pace, while MI rely on Suryakumar and Bumrah to disrupt RCB’s flow. RCB’s spinners (Suyash, Krunal) must contain PBKS’s middle order or MI’s aggressive batsmen.
Player of the Match Prediction
- If PBKS Plays: Virat Kohli is the frontrunner for Player of the Match due to his 614 runs and match-defining 73* against PBKS earlier. His ability to anchor chases or set big totals suits Ahmedabad’s pitch. Prabhsimran Singh is a contender if PBKS posts 190+.
- If MI Plays: Suryakumar Yadav could claim Player of the Match with a quick 70-80, exploiting RCB’s spinners. Kohli remains a strong candidate for RCB with a century in a big chase.
Most Dismissable Bowler Prediction
- If PBKS Plays: Josh Hazlewood is the likely most dismissable bowler, with 18 wickets and 3/17 against PBKS in Qualifier 1. His bounce and length target PBKS’s top order (e.g., Prabhsimran). Arshdeep Singh is a close second, with 2 dismissals of Kohli.
- If MI Plays: Jasprit Bumrah edges out Hazlewood for most dismissable bowler, with 18 wickets and a knack for dismissing RCB’s top order. His yorkers and reverse swing suit Ahmedabad’s conditions.
Match Winner Prediction
Royal Challengers Bengaluru are favored to win the IPL 2025 Final Match 74th, regardless of their opponent, due to their dominant Qualifier 1 performance, balanced squad, and form of Kohli, Salt, and Hazlewood. Against PBKS, RCB’s 8-wicket win in Qualifier 1 and 3-2 record at neutral venues give them a clear edge. Against MI, RCB’s recent win and MI’s middle-order struggles tilt the scales, despite MI’s 5-title pedigree. PBKS’s batting firepower and MI’s playoff experience make them dangerous, but RCB’s momentum and depth suggest a 60-40 chance of lifting their first IPL title.
Predicted Score:
- If RCB Bats First: 190-200, defendable with Hazlewood and Suyash’s bowling.
- If PBKS/MI Bats First: 180-190, chaseable if Kohli and Salt dominate the powerplay.
Key Battles:
- RCB vs PBKS: Kohli vs Arshdeep, Salt vs Rabada, Prabhsimran vs Hazlewood.
- RCB vs MI: Kohli vs Bumrah, Salt vs Boult, Suryakumar vs Suyash.
Why This Match Matters
The IPL 2025 Final Match 74th at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad is a historic clash, with RCB chasing their maiden title after runner-up finishes in 2009, 2011, and 2016. PBKS seek their first championship, while MI aim for a record sixth. Fans searching for RCB vs PBKS or MI, IPL 2025 Final Match Pre-Match Analysis, or Virat Kohli performance will find this match defining, with legacies on the line.
Stay Updated
Catch the IPL 2025 Final Match 74th live on Star Sports Network or JioHotstar, and follow ESPNcricinfo, Times of India, and CricTracker for real-time updates, scorecards, and highlights. Don’t miss the epic battle on June 3, 2025, at 7:30 PM IST
Disclaimer: Predictions are based on data as of June 1, 2025, at 2:04 PM IST, assuming PBKS or MI emerges from Qualifier 2. Match outcomes may vary based on live conditions.
