- May 28, 2025
If you are reading this and you have been a fan of the IPL since the first ball was bowled in 2008, you probably have had 30 years of age in 16, etc., if you support RCB or Punjab Kings. While both have given us incredible matches, unforgettable players, and, of course, tears over unfulfilled hopes. Here we go again, the 2025 IPL season is starting to wind down, and both of these franchises are definitely in the mix. The fans, as we do every year, are having to hope and ask, “Could this be the year?”
Mayank’s Mojo and RCB’s Rising Pulse
Mayank Agarwal isn’t just batting, he is anchoring trust. With RCB looking to scratch their way back into contention, this innings could not have come at a better time. The innings he played with poise but aggression brought us back to what he can do when used properly. Engagement 4 from the post-match chat a few weeks back was spot on — looks like the “fixes” are paying off.
And it’s not just Mayank. The absence of some big names, such as Hazelwood and Tim David, could have sent RCB into the depths of despair, but it buoyed them instead. The turnaround after a lacklustre fielding performance not only showed resilience, but it also showed belief. In previous seasons, RCB could have folded. This season, RCB seems to be fighting back.
RCB’s season has had the same ingredients of late: momentum, fearless batting, and just the right amount of bowling determination. Sure, RCB has made promises in the past, but there seems to be a stronger temperament this time. That is not solely about vice-captains and captaincy – it is about wading in.
Punjab Kings: No Longer Just the “Almost” Team?
Let’s be honest: the experience of following Punjab Kings has been akin to waiting for a rollercoaster – and more often than not, the ride just leaves you hanging wherever it wants. However, the story this year does appear to be different. A key takeaway from the experts? Confidence – and not just from players, but in their structure and processes.
Jitay Sharma’s 85 off 33 wasn’t just a margin of runs from victory; it was a wonderful display of considered aggression. The shots he played at, and even more importantly, didn’t play at – extra cover, mid-wicket, down straight – showed he was clear in his mind, not just going through the motions. That’s what Punjab has missed in pressure moments: clarity.
And Rishab Pant’s century in an otherwise forgettable year? That’s the kind of innings that gives a team camp adrenaline. That’s the kind of confidence one carries for tours under pressure, or the playoffs in this case.
The Mental Game: Confidence Is the Real MVP
When margins are so thin in a tournament, it’s not necessarily about who has better numbers; it’s about who is more confident in their talent. This year feels different. Both squads will enter the field this season with psychological freedom — something that no IPL veteran, coaches, or players will tell you exists. RCB seems lighter, they’ve come to terms with the past and now can play without the load of “Ee Saala Cup Namde” somewhere in their conscience while they play every match. Punjab — well, they are not hoping, they are believing.
Perhaps that’s the sign of how evenly matched the top clubs are this year. It’s hard to believe that RCB and Punjab are no longer long shots — they’ve both put themselves into the “contender” category. It’s not really “can they?” anymore; it’s more like “why not now?”
It’s your turn to make the call: who breaks the curse first — the perennial underdogs from Bangalore, or the kings almost from Punjab? Or will the heartbreak narrative have another chapter?
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