Nagpur: As Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) gear up to clash in the IPL 2025 final on Tuesday, June 3, betting circles in Nagpur are buzzing with activity. With both teams set to fight for their maiden IPL title, local bookies are offering nearly identical odds — but with a slight tilt in favor of RCB due to their dominant display in the Qualifier 1.
According to sources in Nagpur’s underground betting market, the odds reflect the neck-and-neck performance of both teams during the league stage. RCB and PBKS each secured nine wins, suffered four losses, and had one no-result in the group stage — finishing as the top two sides on the table. Their net run rates were also almost identical, underlining how evenly matched the finalists are.
However, RCB’s commanding win over PBKS in the Qualifier 1 at Mullanpur has swayed punters marginally in their favor. “It’s close, but RCB’s experience in finals and their recent thrashing of PBKS gives them an edge,” a local bookmaker said, requesting anonymity.
This final marks RCB’s fourth IPL title match — though they have finished as runners-up in all three previous attempts (2009, 2011, and 2016). PBKS, meanwhile, return to the final after more than a decade, having last played the championship match in 2014, when they lost to Kolkata Knight Riders.
Interestingly, PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer brings unique experience to the table — becoming the first player to lead three different teams to IPL finals. He captained Delhi Capitals in 2020, led KKR to the trophy in 2024, and now eyes a win with PBKS in 2025.
RCB booked their place in the final early with a dominant performance against PBKS in Qualifier 1, while PBKS had to overcome the Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2 at Ahmedabad on Sunday night to seal their spot.
As fans across the country prepare for a historic showdown — with a new champion guaranteed — betting markets like Nagpur reflect just how evenly poised the contest is. The final will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, promising high drama and the crowning of a long-awaited new IPL champion.
