On June 3, RCB and PBKS will face off in the IPL final, guaranteeing a new champion as both teams chase their first-ever title since 2008.
RCB and Punjab Kings: Two Long Waits for IPL Glory
For 17 years, Royal Challengers Bengaluru have been chasing the elusive IPL trophy, with the passionate slogan “E sala cup namde” (“This year, the cup is ours”) turning from hopeful rallying cry to a phrase often met with laughter. The franchise’s journey has been a rollercoaster—from finishing near the bottom in the inaugural 2008 season with a “Test” team, to reaching the final in 2009 in South Africa thanks to conditions and Anil Kumble’s leadership.
Despite reaching two more finals, including one under Daniel Vettori in 2011 and another near miss in 2016 under Virat Kohli, RCB has yet to lift the trophy. Their persistent presence in the title race contrasts with Punjab Kings, their opponents in the upcoming final, who have only appeared in one IPL final—in 2014—where they lost to Kolkata Knight Riders.
Among the eight original IPL franchises, only RCB, Punjab Kings, and Delhi Capitals (formerly Delhi Daredevils) have never won the championship. That changes this Tuesday in Ahmedabad, guaranteeing a new champion for the first time since the Gujarat Titans won on debut in 2022.
Punjab Kings, formerly Kings XI Punjab, have featured legendary players such as Yuvraj Singh, Adam Gilchrist, Kumar Sangakkara, Chris Gayle, and Virender Sehwag. Yet despite star power, a lack of team cohesion resulted in many early exits and frequent leadership changes—16 captains and 10 coaches in 17 years. It has only been under captain Shreyas Iyer and coach Ricky Ponting—the 17th and 11th respectively—that Punjab Kings have forged a resilient, exciting squad led by young Indian talents Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, and Nehal Wadhera.
Tuesday’s final promises not just a winner but the end of a long wait for both franchises hungry to finally claim their maiden IPL crown.
The changes in setups
Royal Challengers Bengaluru, renamed from Bangalore ahead of the 2024 season, have never lacked star power. Virat Kohli, the franchise’s iconic face, captained RCB 143 times and often overshadowed legends like AB de Villiers, Yuvraj Singh, Chris Gayle, Shane Watson, and Mitchell Starc. For years, RCB existed under the towering shadow of Kohli’s brilliance, but since he stepped down as captain before IPL 2022 after more than eight years, the team has shown promising signs of forging a new identity.
Meanwhile, Punjab Kings identified Shreyas Iyer as their future captain early on, aggressively pursuing him at the November auction in Jeddah. RCB, by contrast, appeared to “settle” on Rajat Patidar, who came into IPL 2025 without a strong leadership reputation. Yet both men have risen to the occasion. Intriguingly, just months before the IPL final, the two captains faced off in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final at RCB’s home ground, the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Patidar led Madhya Pradesh, backed by an enthusiastic RCB-supporting crowd, while Iyer captained Mumbai. On that day, Shreyas’ Mumbai prevailed, but now Patidar hopes for a historic turnaround at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium—a fitting tribute to Kohli, the “Mr. IPL.”