Though Mayank Agarwal and later Rajat Patidar fell while playing aggressive shots, Kohli remained cautious. He managed just three boundaries in his 35-ball 43, striking at a modest rate of 122.
Following Gayle on the list is Rohit Sharma, who has struck 302 sixes, showcasing his consistency and dominance as a top-order batter.
With both teams yet to win an Indian Premier League title, the tournament is guaranteed to crown a new champion this season, finally ending an 18-year drought for one of the franchises.
Famed singer Shankar Mahadevan will headline the event with a powerful tribute to India's armed forces, honouring those who served in Operation Sindoor and the lives lost during the Pahalgam tragedy.
RCB would be coming in with the same formidable eleven that dismantled the Punjab Kings batting line up in the Qualifier 1 clash.
To handle weather-related interruptions, the BCCI has allocated a reserve day for the final. If rain prevents play on Tuesday, the match will be resumed or played in full on Wednesday, June 4.
Iyer has etched his name into history by becoming the first captain to lead three different franchises to the final - Delhi Capitals (2020), Kolkata Knight Riders (2024), and Punjab Kings (2025)
Punjab on the other hand have a different kind of challenge present for the Challengers. One which has a burst of youth and energy with the likes of uncapped talents like Nehal Wadhera and Shashank.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi made history with his debut at just 14 years of age, making him the youngest player to play in the IPL. On top of that, he also scored a 35-ball century this season
The Aussie quick has never lost a final in any major tournament he's featured in, whether it's the Champions League T20 in 2012 or the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup.
Rain showers are predicted in the evening, with the potential to escalate into steady rainfall, raising concerns about possible disruptions to the big game.
As of now, Kohli stands as the highest run-scorer in IPL history, having accumulated 8618 runs from 266 matches (258 innings),
Key stats at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium in IPL 2025: Matches - 8, Bat 1st Won - 6, Bat 2nd Won - 2, Avg 1st Inns score - 219/6, Lowest Total Defended - 196, Highest Target Chased - 204
Topping the list of all-time leading wicket-takers in IPL history is Yuzvendra Chahal. The leg-spinner has claimed 205 wickets in 161 matches, maintaining an impressive average of 22.61.
According to Sunak, the IPL has also played a big role in the resurgence of cricket in the Olympics and the rise of the women's game
This marks only the second time PBKS have reached the IPL final, their first appearance coming back in 2014 when they narrowly lost to Kolkata Knight Riders by three wickets.
RCB has maintained a well-rounded team performance throughout IPL 2025, backed by match-winners across the board. According to Bobat, "The group is locked in and motivated to bring the title home."
After a dramatic IPL 2025 season, the grand finale awaits: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) vs Punjab Kings (PBKS) on June 3 at 7:30 PM IST - a new champion will be crowned.
Shreyas Iyer led from the front as PBKS completed a convincing chase to beat MI by five wickets in Qualifier 2, thus booking their place in the final of IPL 2025 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru
The IPL 2025 final will be played between RCB and PBKS at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. RCB vs PBKS grand finale will begin at 7:30 PM IST