Our betting expert has three tips for Tuesday’s IPL final between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings in Ahmedabad (start time, 3pm). Scroll down for the analysis behind his selections.
By Luke Seychell
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru @ 4/5 with Paddy Power
- Phil Salt to be Royal Challengers Bengaluru top batter @ 15/4 with Sky Bet
- Josh Inglis to hit most sixes for Punjab Kings @ 6/1 with bet365
Fast bowlers can power RCB to maiden title
There will be a new name on the trophy at the end of the Indian Premier League’s 18th season as Royal Challengers Bengaluru face Punjab Kings in Tuesday’s final.
RCB have been runners-up on three occasions, while Punjab lost to Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2014 final.
Kings captain Shreyas Iyer led his side into this season’s final after an impressive run-chase against in-form Mumbai Indians in Sunday’s Qualifier 2.
The skipper finished unbeaten on 87 off 41 balls as Punjab reached a target of 204 with an over to spare in Ahmedabad, which also hosts Tuesday’s final.
However, their batting was far less convincing three days earlier when they were skittled for 101 by RCB in the Eliminator.
The Royal Challengers’ bowlers were relentless in their victory in Mullanpur, which is one of Punjab’s home grounds.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Yash Dayal dismissed dangerous openers Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya in the first three overs, Josh Hazlewood took 3-21 and leg-spinner Suyash Sharma finished with 3-17.
RCB raced to an eight-wicket win in ten overs and their head-to-head record against Punjab suggests they should claim the trophy for the first time.
Bengaluru have beaten the Kings in five of their six meetings since the start of the 2023 IPL and their bowlers are capable of extending that streak in the season finale.
- IPL Final tip 1: Royal Challengers Bengaluru @ 4/5 with Paddy Power
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Salt could enjoy perfect finish to the season
Virat Kohli is an obvious favourite to top-score for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, but his opening partner Phil Salt is also finishing the campaign strongly.
Kohli was the leading batter in last term’s IPL and only four players have scored more runs than his tally of 614 in 14 innings in 2025.
However, he was caught behind for a run-a-ball 12 in last week’s Eliminator against Punjab while Salt raced to 56 not out from just 27 deliveries.
The right-hander, who starred in Kolkata Knight Riders’ IPL triumph last term, has a point to prove after being dropped from England’s ODI squad.
His last five IPL scores away from Bengaluru were 65, one, 62, 30 and 56 not out and he should be encouraged by the efforts of Mumbai opener Jonny Bairstow, who thumped 38 off 24 balls against Punjab on Sunday.
- IPL Final tip 2: Phil Salt to be Royal Challengers Bengaluru top batter @ 15/4 with Sky Bet
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Inglis catches the eye in six-hitting market
Australia international Josh Inglis set the tone for the Kings in Sunday’s run-chase against Mumbai, taking 20 runs off star bowler Jasprit Bumrah’s first over.
Inglis’s 21-ball 38 included five fours and two sixes and he looks overpriced in the betting to hit the most maximums for the Kings in the final.
He won that heat in Punjab’s last league fixture, hitting three sixes in his matchwinning 73 against Mumbai, while he has also showcased his destructive power at international level.
The Aussie’s T20 centuries against India in 2023 and Scotland in 2024 featured eight and seven sixes respectively and he cleared the ropes six times in February’s Champions Trophy ton against England.
- IPL Final tip 3: Josh Inglis to hit most sixes for Punjab Kings @ 6/1 with bet365
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