Several experts, including Harbhajan Singh, Robin Uthappa, and AB de Villiers, have chosen their winner as Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) clash in the final of the IPL 2025. The IPL 2025 final will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on June 3.
This is RCB’s 4th time in the IPL final and first since the 2016 IPL, while PBKS have made it into only their second IPL final after the 2014 edition. For the first time in over a decade, a new team will be crowned the IPL champion.
Harbhajan Singh, an Indian spin legend who has played for three of the most successful teams in IPL history—the Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, and Kolkata Knight Riders—backed Shreyas Iyer to make history by winning back-to-back titles with two different teams after leading from the front in his team's five-wicket victory over the Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2 on Sunday.
“He’s the kind of player who takes responsibility for finishing games on his shoulders. We’ve seen him do it for India—not just once, but in the World Cup, the Champions Trophy, and now for Punjab Kings. For Punjab, for all Punjabis, this is a massive gift. The franchise hasn’t lifted the IPL trophy in so long, and Shreyas has the chance to finally turn that dream into reality,” Harbhajan Singh said on JioHotstar.
“Even now, just one step away from the trophy, the hope this team has ignited is incredible. On behalf of Punjab, I’d like to thank them. The brand of cricket they’ve played has electrified the state—even in Punjab’s grassroots cricket, the youth are buzzing with energy after witnessing performances like these from their home team,” the former off-spinner added.
Legendary South African batsman AB de Villiers, who spent ten years in the RCB dressing room with captain Virat Kohli from 2011 to 2021, said the club had struck the correct balance this season and hoped that the "little moments" would work in his old team's favor in the championship game.
“I think 2011 was a really good chance to win the title. Everyone talks about the 2016 season, but let’s forget about the past. Where is RCB now? In another final—2025. It’s closer than you think and smaller than you think. So hopefully those little moments will go in RCB’s favor come the 3rd of June.
It was around the auction time when I felt like RCB really got the balance right this year. It’s not a one-dimensional batting lineup, not a one-dimensional bowling lineup— there are options. I just loved the look of that squad when I saw it come out. They found a way to gel together as a unit. As you can see, all the players individually chipped in at times, and that is a sign of a healthy environment,” AB de Villiers said on JioHotstar.
Robin Uthappa, who won the IPL twice, in 2014 with KKR and in 2021 with CSK, and who was part of the 2009 RCB team that played the final that season, felt the Royal Challengers have been the most consistent team in the last five years and have also “looked the most dangerous,” and backed Patidar and Co. to conquer the final hurdle.
“I’m ecstatic, and I’m feeling just exactly like how Virat is feeling right now. Ecstatic, but I know there’s one more to go. You can’t take your eyes off the ball right now. If you look at the last five years, I reckon they’ve been the most consistent team, but also the team that has looked the most dangerous as well.
They’ve actually turned up, they’ve brought the heat, and they’ve been there and thereabouts — but just something has been evading that first trophy for them. Maybe it’s befitting that in the 18th year, after 18 years of waiting for number 18 as well, they will finally win it this year,” Uthappa told the official broadcaster.
Both RCB and PBKS will go for the glory when they clash in the final in Ahmedabad on June 3.
