Punjab Kings are all that stand in the way of Virat Kohli finally lifting the elusive IPL trophy, as Royal Challengers Bengaluru gear up for a historic showdown on Tuesday at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. With a seating capacity of 1,32,000, the world’s largest cricket stadium will witness the crowning of a first-time champion, as neither Punjab nor Bengaluru has clinched the IPL title since the tournament’s inception in 2008.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru will enter the final with a psychological advantage, having comprehensively defeated Punjab Kings by eight wickets in the first playoff match last week. This marks the fourth time Kohli and his side have reached the IPL final. However, heartbreak has defined their previous three appearances, as they have never managed to cross the finish line.
For Kohli, the stakes are personal as well as professional. The 36-year-old batting maestro, who recently bid farewell to Test cricket alongside Rohit Sharma, has once again shouldered the batting burden for his franchise. With 614 runs in 14 innings, including eight half-centuries, Kohli has showcased vintage form throughout the 2025 season. His determination to win the IPL is no secret, with the legendary cricketer openly expressing his desire to cap his storied career with the league’s most coveted title.
The crowd in Ahmedabad is expected to be firmly behind Kohli, who remains a national icon and a symbol of relentless passion for Indian cricket fans. Yet, the final hurdle has historically proven insurmountable for the Bengaluru-based franchise.
RCB’s record in IPL finals reflects their long-standing struggle to seal the deal:
- 2009: Lost to Deccan Chargers by 6 runs (DC 143/6, RCB 137/9)
- 2011: Lost to Chennai Super Kings by 58 runs (CSK 205/5, RCB 147/8)
- 2016: Lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad by 8 runs (SRH 208/7, RCB 200/7)
Each defeat has been a painful reminder of what might have been, with the 2016 final still fresh in the memories of fans who watched RCB fall short in a nail-biting chase.
As the final approaches, the narrative writes itself: Punjab seek redemption for their 2014 final loss, while Kohli eyes the one title that has consistently eluded him. Come Tuesday, one team will make history, while the other will walk away with yet another tale of what could have been!
