Battle of Reds: RCB, Punjab Kings vie for maiden IPL crown

The Indian Premier League is assured of a new champion for the first time since 2016, with Punjab Kings knocking out five-time title holders Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2 on Sunday night in Ahmedabad to set up a mouthwatering final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).

- Tridid Baparnash

Neither side has ever lifted the IPL trophy, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the title clash scheduled for Tuesday, also at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

RCB will be playing a fourth IPL final, having finished runners-up in 2009, 2011 and 2016 to Deccan Chargers, Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad, respectively. On the other hand, Punjab's lone IPL final appearance came in 2014, when they were known as Kings XI Punjab, and lost to Kolkata Knight Riders. The 2014 season was also the only time that PBKS had made the playoffs since the concept was introduced in 2011.

Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer, who led the Kolkata Knight Riders to the title in 2024, is the first player to lead three different teams to the finals. He had earlier led the Delhi Capitals to the final in the 2020 edition. On Tuesday, as he leads his troops out against red-hot Royal Challengers Bengaluru, he will fancy his chances of emerging as the first man to lead two franchises to the ultimate prize.