Image Source : BCCI/IPL
It's time for one last tango in the IPL 2025 edition. So, what could be going on in the minds of the famed RCB franchise? They've previously made it to the finals on three occasions, including the most recent heartbreak coming in 2016 edition. Kohli would still remember that game, in particular.
Even though it transpired a decade back in time, the wounds may have hurt having gone down to SRH by 8 runs. There's always been the quintessential element of fight in the RCB camp, but thus far, since the start of the famed franchise competition, they've remained bereft of the title win. That means no crown yet in all these years of competing.
But then in order to get one, just what tricks to the RCB camp need to deploy tonight against PBKS? Quite frankly, it doesn't get better other than picking the right names to play the much-awaited final, right?
Here's the strongest predicted Playing XI for RCB for tonight's mega IPL 2025 final:
Openers: Phil Salt and Virat Kohli
Truth be told, it really wasn't going all that well for Phil Salt at the start of the 2025 IPL season, with the big striking English right hander making just 4, 14 and 37 in his first three games. But ever since then, he's picked up lost form and with it, rather importantly, big strikes to the fence. His overall IPL strike rate of 175 will attract the daze of the Punjab bowlers and it's something that his opening partner, Kohli, would love to marvel at.
An unbeaten 56, which followed the 30 and previously, the 62-run blitz have been Phil Salt's three previous or most recent scores. And frankly, there could be nothing more appealing to the RCB camp than such good form and in the right time. On his part, Salt's partner at the other end, is adept at rubbing some on the opponents' wounds with Kohli once again being the pick of the batters from RCB dugout.
Kohli has scored easily over 200 runs at this ground and it includes a cheerful and gutsy score of 70 in the past. It's just the kind of knock that could excite RCB and deflate their opponents. Should they bat first, then Patidar would expect his fiery opening two to carve the Punjab bowlers for runs, knowing well that there are talents in the middle of the line up that can take the game away from PBKS.
Middle Order: Rajit Patidar, Jitesh Sharma, Mayank Agarwal
The RCB middle order is, without a doubt, one of the most compelling in all of the IPL contests as seen in 2025. While Jitesh Sharma is a brave batter and together with Agarwal, who's produced runs off late at quick rates this season, Bangalore look stable in the middle order, the batting department grows healthier with the presence of Patidar. Although, the captain will urge someone like Mayank Agarwal to remember his heroics against the LSG side, versus whom the right hander scored a breezy unbeaten 41. Such an inning, especially with the top order having not made too many, can really come in handy, right?
As for the captain, though he's battled ups and downs, of late, Patidar, who learned several tricks of the trade by merely observing someone like a Faf and Kohli in 2024, is a known performer in the middle order for RCB.
He remains cool under pressure and while he may not always offer big strokes, he's a fine player of spin and can always keep the scoreboard ticking even under duress.
His 1085 IPL career runs have come at a great scoring rate of 154. But he'll most need is that singular big score that hasn't really come this season, so can it be tonight, then- Mr. Patidar?
All Rounders: Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd
The RCB actually have two of the finest all rounders, who are both adept at taking wickets and turning the game at the back of a daring outing with the bat in hand.
As seen earlier in this tournament, Shepherd, a big hitter and clean striker of the ball, someone who can make runs over cover and across the point region, came good against the mighty CSK team.
He took just 14 odd deliveries to hit an unbeaten 53 and smoked the Chennai bowlers to all parts of the Bangalore stadium. Pandya, the other all rounder in the team has his task cut out for today. He can be brought into the attack as a first change bowler and even during the middle overs, post the first batting powerplay and can use his great playing experience into good effect for the RCB camp.
Bowlers: Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar
At the face of it, this four-pronged bowling attack might not look like that daunting after all but still is, a world class bowling attack at the disposal of RCB skipper Rajat Patidar. Hazlewood, Bangalore's most sucessful seam bowler in a long time, is the pick of the bowlers and will be backed to come up good tonight. Also, it helps to note that the 2025 finalists, RCB have in their ranks a quality seamer who currently stands fourth on the purple cap holders list. Hazlewood with 21 wickets this season has been the go-to bowler in the RCB camp but with the likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar alongside, his confidence will only go skywards.
On his own, Kumar, in his last ten RCB outings, has captured no fewer than 12 wickets. But what his team most needs today is for the experience mover of the white ball to produce a spell like that against the Delhi Capitals, that culminated into a 3-for.
Together with Suyash Sharma, who's clearly among the best current IPL spinners, Patidar will hope to puzzle the Punjab batting line up and can target its strong, very dangerous middle order comprising wreckers like Stoinis. He's adept at trapping batters in front of the wickets and can give it a major spin.
Yash Dayal will play his part too, as he so often has, in getting a wicket or two early. Can he tag along with Hazlewood, therefore, to produce a leading left-arm, right arm fast bowling super show when it's most needed? We shall have to watch and see.
