Get ready, cricket fans!!!!! History is about to be made! After 17 thrilling seasons, heartbreaks, and nail-biters, the IPL is guaranteed to crown a brand-new champion this year as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) take on Punjab Kings (PBKS) in a high-stakes final showdown on Tuesday, June 3, in Ahmedabad.

Yep, you read that right. neither team has ever lifted the IPL trophy before. So, whether you're a die-hard RCB loyalist or a hopeful PBKS fan, this is your year to dream big.

The Road to the Final: Neck and Neck

RCB and PBKS were like two peas in a cricketing pod this season—both finished the league stage with 9 wins, 4 losses, and one no-result. And get this: their net run rates were almost identical! It doesn’t get tighter than that. 

In the head-to-head battles:

PBKS squeezed out a win in Bengaluru.

RCB got sweet revenge in Mullanpur.

And in Qualifier 1? RCB steamrolled PBKS, bundling them out for 101 and chasing it down with a casual 10 overs to spare.

PBKS bounced back in style, though. They beat Mumbai Indians twice in a week, including a clutch performance in Qualifier 2 on Sunday night in Ahmedabad to book their final ticket.

RCB’s Final Curse… About to Break?

RCB fans, this one hits close to the heart. Your team has been here before—three times, in fact—but always ended up the bridesmaid, never the bride:

2009 – Lost to Deccan Chargers

2011 – Lost to CSK

2016 – Lost to SRH

But this 2025 squad? They’re hungry, balanced, and laser-focused. Could this finally be RCB’s redemption arc?

PBKS: New Name, New Destiny?

PBKS (formerly Kings XI Punjab) have had a long wait for this. Their only other final appearance was in 2014, where they fell just short against KKR. Since then, it’s been a rollercoaster of mid-table finishes—until now.

And here's a fun twist: Shreyas Iyer, their captain, just became the **first player to lead three different franchises to the IPL final! (DC in 2020, KKR in 2024, PBKS in 2025). Now he’s eyeing a title with a third different team in just five years. Talk about captain cool!

So, Who’s It Gonna Be?

A team that’s chased glory for over a decade?

Or a franchise that’s reinvented itself and come charging back?

All we know is that on June 3, a new champion will rise—and it’s going to be one for the history books.

Get your popcorn, paint your face, and buckle up. This IPL final is going to be epic.