One of the two teams that have been part of the IPL since its inception will finally lift their first trophy after 18 attempts, while the other will once again walk away heartbroken.
Just five and a half months ago, Shreyas Iyer and Rajat Patidar faced off in the final of another T20 tournament—the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. In that match in Bengaluru, Patidar, captaining Madhya Pradesh, scored 81 off 40 balls. Shreyas didn’t do much with the bat, but under his leadership, Mumbai lifted the trophy. On the eve of the IPL final, Patidar recalled that moment and said, “I just told Shreyas the same thing. It feels very similar, same captains, same final stage—the only difference is, this is the IPL.”
Even though that’s the “only difference,” both players know the gap is massive. The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy is a respected domestic tournament in India—but it doesn’t compare to the IPL. The IPL is not just the biggest franchise tournament in the world, it’s woven into the dreams, pride, and passion of Indian cricket.
Now, Patidar’s Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Shreyas’s Punjab Kings are just one win away from the ultimate prize. One team will erupt in joy with their first-ever IPL trophy, while the other will be left devastated once again.
The grand finale of IPL’s 18th season will be held on Tuesday in Ahmedabad, starting at 8 PM Bangladesh time.
So far, the IPL trophy features the names of seven different franchises—one of which no longer exists, and two weren’t part of the original season. But these two finalists have been around since the beginning. Their names have changed—Royal Challengers Bangalore became Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and Kings XI Punjab are now Punjab Kings—but ownership and luck have remained the same. Neither has managed to win the title even once.
Despite their star-studded line-ups and massive fanbases, Bengaluru has reached the final three times without success. Punjab made the final just once—in 2014—and never really put up a fight. Among the original teams, only Delhi Capitals (formerly Delhi Daredevils) share the same fate of never winning. On social media, these three teams are often jokingly called the “Holy Trinity.” That ends tonight. After 18 seasons, either Bengaluru or Punjab will finally hold the trophy.
Emotions run especially high around Bengaluru because of one man—Virat Kohli. The most successful batter in IPL history, known for his unreal consistency, has scored over 500 runs this season—his record eighth time doing so. Fans wonder: can the man in jersey number 18 lift the trophy on his 18th try?
Over the years, RCB has featured legends like Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers, Faf du Plessis, Jacques Kallis, Glenn Maxwell, KL Rahul, Anil Kumble, Zaheer Khan, and Dale Steyn. All of them walked away without tasting IPL glory. Kohli remains—and continues to perform. Could this be the season where it finally pays off?
What sets this Bengaluru team apart from previous editions is their bowling attack. While their batting has always been a strength, their bowling has often let them down. But this year, the likes of Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Suyash Sharma, and Krunal Pandya have delivered consistently. In the first qualifier, they bowled out Punjab for just 101, paving the way to the final.
Reflecting on that match, Punjab captain Shreyas said, “The final is on a different pitch and at a different ground.” Whether the result changes too, only time will tell. But this Punjab team feels different—perhaps the most entertaining and eye-catching side of the season, under Ricky Ponting’s coaching and Shreyas’s captaincy.
After years of searching for balance, identity, and cohesion, Punjab built something special. They brought in Ponting, one of Australia’s greatest captains and a title-winning IPL coach with Mumbai. Shreyas, who had led KKR to a title last season, entered the auction due to contract issues. Punjab fought hard for him and got him for ₹26.75 crore—and now, the investment looks well worth it.
Together, Ponting and Shreyas have turned the team into a tight-knit unit off the field, and a fearless, relentless force on it. Punjab’s biggest strength has been their youthful energy—players like Priyansh Arya, Nehal Wadhera, and Prabhsimran Singh have delivered thrilling performances. Experienced names like Shashank Singh, Arshdeep Singh, and Marcus Stoinis have made solid contributions, while Josh Inglis has stepped up late in the season.
Shreyas has already made history by taking three different franchises to the IPL final. If he wins tonight, another unique milestone awaits.
With so many records, emotions, and legacies at stake, the joy of winning will be sky-high. But the pain of losing—after coming so close—will be equally crushing.
