It’s happening tonight: after years of heartbreak and near-misses, PBKS in IPL final feels like a fresh breath of air. But here’s the twist: they’re facing RCB, another trophy-less giant. What makes this face-off even more compelling? Shreyas Iyer against RCB. The PBKS skipper, a man on a mission, has a complicated history with the team he now has to conquer to secure PBKS’s IPL title.
“𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐞, 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐞” pic.twitter.com/ArYll4sYUV
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) May 28, 2025
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A Tough Record to Crack：Shreyas Iyer Against RCB
Let’s not sugarcoat it—Shreyas Iyer against RCB has been, well, a bit of a struggle. Across 17 IPL innings, Iyer has scored 408 runs at an average of 25.50 and a strike rate of just 120.35. Not disastrous, but far from dominant. This season? Even worse. In three encounters with RCB in IPL 2025, he’s scraped together just 15 runs—averaging a mere 5. Josh Hazlewood seems to have his number, dismissing him twice.
But here’s the silver lining: both times Iyer played at Narendra Modi Stadium this season, he scored unbeaten fifties. And guess what? Tonight’s final is right there in Ahmedabad. So while the numbers may say one thing, the stage might say another. Don’t count him out yet.
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From Qualifier Blues to MI Breakthrough
PBKS’s playoff journey has been dramatic, to say the least. After losing to RCB in Qualifier 1, many thought their dream was over. But Shreyas and co. bounced back big time. In the do-or-die clash against MI, the captain led from the front, smashing 87* off 41 balls—a knock for the ages.
Ness Wadia kissed Iyer on the cheek but he Swiped it off with a Napkin 😭😭😂🤣 pic.twitter.com/KWSZrRty5J
— Sukham 𝕏 (@LionsDenPBKS) June 2, 2025
That win not only punched their ticket to the final but also reignited hopes of PBKS’s IPL title. Of course, what followed was as unexpected as a Bumrah slower ball. Team co-owner Ness Wadia planted a celebratory kiss on Iyer’s cheek during the cake-cutting bash. Iyer’s swift tissue wipe-off? Pure meme material. But beneath the viral moment was a man who confessed to getting just four hours of sleep after that game.
“I couldn’t sleep,” Iyer admitted. “It’s not over until we lift that trophy.” The pressure is real. PBKS in IPL final for the first time in 11 years, and Iyer, new to the team, new to the role is already carrying the emotional baggage of history.
Fallen, not finished! 💪🏻 pic.twitter.com/R5mkALa5wH
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) May 29, 2025
Mind Over Muscle
To understand Iyer’s importance to PBKS’s IPL title charge, we need to rewind. This is a guy who’s dragged three different franchises to the playoffs. DC in 2019 and 2020 (including a final), KKR to the title in 2024, and now PBKS in 2025. That’s not luck—it’s leadership.
Different jerseys, same leadership DNA 🧬🫡
Will this be the season Shreyas Iyer takes PBKS all the way? 🤔#TATAIPL | @PunjabKingsIPL | @ShreyasIyer15 pic.twitter.com/poIirhscGM
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 19, 2025
But it hasn’t been smooth sailing. Despite a stellar World Cup 2023 and a strong domestic season (including 480 Ranji runs at an average of 68.57), Iyer was shockingly left out of India’s Test squad against England. Even his IPL 2024 title with KKR didn’t earn him retention. He’s had to fight for every inch of respect, and he’s doing it again.
As head coach Ricky Ponting puts it, “He’s done absolutely everything.” The Aussie legend was “gutted” over the Test snub but believes that rejection only added fuel to Iyer’s fire. Their coach-captain relationship rekindled after their DC days, is one of mutual trust. Ponting handles the tactics, Iyer the execution. So far, it’s worked wonders.
17.2 🤌❤️ https://t.co/0O7hVg8pxA pic.twitter.com/kdLpWybW3x
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) June 2, 2025
The Warrior in the Arena
In a way, this whole season has felt like a personal war for Iyer. And he’s made it clear: the war isn’t over. “We lost the battle, not the war,” he said after losing to RCB in Qualifier 1. Then he showed what that meant by annihilating MI just days later.
बडे मंच का सरपंच! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/0KnScPuiZw
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) June 1, 2025
What sets Iyer apart isn’t just skill—it’s composure under pressure. Against MI’s 204, with Bumrah breathing fire, he stayed calm, calculated, and clinical. He knew the red-soil pitch, trusted his instincts, and never let the moment get too big. That mental edge will be crucial when he faces a familiar foe again tonight—Shreyas Iyer against RCB, Round Four.
Related Article：Breaking an 11-Year Drought：How PBKS Qualify for Playoffs
All or Nothing：Tonight’s Legacy-Defining Clash
There’s more than a trophy on the line tonight. It’s about identity—for both PBKS and RCB. But for Iyer, it’s personal. To win back-to-back titles with two different teams. To silence doubters. To complete one of the most underrated captaincy arcs in IPL history.
𝑶𝒉 𝑺𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒂 𝑼𝒕𝒉 𝒁𝒂𝒓𝒂 𝑻𝒆, 𝑷𝒉𝒊𝒓 𝑶𝒉𝒊 𝑱𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂 𝑫𝒊𝒌𝒉𝒂 𝑨𝒑𝒏𝒂! 🔥🦁 pic.twitter.com/Sdndo0T2KF
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) May 31, 2025
PBKS in IPL final still feels surreal, but it’s happening. And if PBKS’s IPL title dream is to come true, Shreyas Iyer has to overcome the one team that’s given him the most trouble this year. The numbers may not be on his side, but heart, hunger, and history just might be.
𝐏𝐮𝐧𝐣𝐚𝐛 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐏𝐋 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥!🔥 pic.twitter.com/Ehe6sR9YeF
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) June 1, 2025
If anyone can turn a script upside down, it’s Shreyas Iyer. Tonight, he doesn’t just play for a trophy. He plays for redemption, recognition, and a place in IPL folklore. And if he pulls it off? Don’t call it a comeback—call it destiny.
