IPL 2025 Final Showdown: RCB vs PBKS - Who Holds the Edge?

• RCB or PBKS will win their maiden IPL title, ending a 17-season wait.
• One team exits the long-standing trophy-less trio with DC.
• It's all or nothing for fans and for Virat Kohli's legacy.

After a record 17 twisting and turning seasons, the IPL 2025 final will mark a symbolic and emotional end to one of the league's most discussed sagas   the conclusion of the so-called 'Holy Trinity' of trophy-less original teams: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Punjab Kings (PBKS), and Delhi Capitals (DC).

Out of the seven teams to have lifted the IPL crown over the years, one does not exist anymore and two entered the league much later. But RCB and PBKS were with the IPL from the start. Even though they have been around for so long, both have witnessed heartbreak after heartbreak   RCB reaching three finals before 2025 with no success, while PBKS, after all the rebuilds for years, only made their second-ever final. Together with Delhi Capitals, these three sides acquired the ironic nickname of the "Holy Trinity"   a name born out of mutual exasperation but one which supporters later adopted with humor and solidarity.

Now, in IPL 2025, that holy trinity is finally shattering. Either PBKS or RCB will win their inaugural IPL title on Tuesday night, putting an end to almost two decades of close misses and broken dreams. But for the losers, the loss will hurt more than ever   not only because it's yet another final lost, but because it is at the doorstep of redemption.

For Punjab Kings, it may be another tale of a promising rebuild down the drain. The team displayed incredible grit this season, with a coach-captain combination that took risks and supported uncapped talents, converting underdogs into match-winners. Their final push had the sentimental value of a sports movie   surprising, spirited, and uplifting.

For Royal Challengers Bengaluru, defeat would be devastating. This year, they at last seemed to have worked out the formula   the appropriate mix of panache and substance, youth and maturity, stars and support players. It has been a season of strategic excellence and steady performances. But another loss in a fourth final would cement the agonizing reputation of 'always the bridesmaid'.

And then there is Virat Kohli   RCB's face, and one of the most recognizable faces in contemporary cricket. Towards the end of a record-breaking year that comprised India's T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy victories, and his tearful Test farewell, Kohli again went past 500 runs this season   the eighth time he's accomplished that feat. The number 18 man, going into his 18th IPL season with no title to show for it, appears destined for bigger things. But if RCB fail again, it would be cruel irony for a man who has given it his all to the tournament.

No matter the outcome, IPL 2025's final is not just a game   it is a cleansing experience for two of the most dedicated fan bases in cricket. One will finally be able to rejoice in vindication, while the other will have to deal with another installment of agonizing what-ifs. But one thing is assured: tonight, the Holy Trinity will cease to exist.