The Punjab Kings (PBKS) and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru(RCB) brace themselves for an intense showdown at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The 3rd of June, 2025, will mark a significant date in the chapter of the Indian Premier League (IPL) as the world sits in anticipation to see a new title winner. 

PBKS had a smooth road to the playoffs and faced minimal hiccups along the way, finishing at the top during the league stage. However, leading into the playoffs, they were severely jolted by RCB in Qualifier one game as they crashed out on the back of a thumping nine-wicket defeat. But Shreyas & Co. regained momentum just in time and clinically brushed MI aside in Qualifier two to book their spot in the IPL final only for the second time in their history.

RCB, on the other hand, have also been in top form, finishing second in the points table with nine wins in 14 matches. In fact, they were the first team to qualify for the IPL 2025 final, beating PBKS by nine wickets in Qualifier one. They will meet their old adversaries from Qualifier one again and will be looking to repeat a similar sort of performance to annihilate PBKS once and for all in the final.

But as the age-old saying goes, batters win you matches, but the bowlers win you tournaments. Hence, the spotlight will be on the bowlers tonight as they have a key role to play in containing the star-studded batting line-ups on both sides. Having said that, let's dive in to unravel the top three bowlers who are likely to contribute heavily with the ball in the IPL final tonight.

See also: Three batters who can shine and score the most number of runs in the IPL 2025 Final

Josh Hazlewood (Royal Challengers Bengaluru)

Josh Hazlewood is arguably one of the best operating seamers of the tournament so far. The Aussie paceman is now the fourth-highest wicket-taker of the competition overall, and the highest wicket-taker for his franchise. He has claimed 21 wickets at a stunning average of 15.8, which includes his best figures of 4-33 against RR in a winning cause. Following his temporary exclusion from the squad due to back injury, RCB's death bowling deteriorated significantly. The franchise had one of the worst economy rates in the death overs, with bowlers conceding at a galloping rate of 11 RPO. But his re-entry to the side bolstered RCB ahead of the Qualifier 1 game against PBKS, where he played an instrumental role in not only keeping the run flow down but also pegging the momentum of the opposition by striking at key intervals.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Royal Challengers Bengaluru)

The veteran Indian pacer has a plethora of white-ball experience, both on an international and domestic scale. Bhuvi has also played a lot of franchise cricket and over the years, has developed a wide range of tricks that make him a tricky proposition to contend with. He currently shares the second spot with Krunal in the list of wicket-takers for his side and has scripted a few noteworthy performances this year. In 13 matches, Bhuvi has claimed 15 wickets at a formidable average of just under 30, with his best performance being against DC, where he bagged match-winning figures of 3-33. In a match where the stakes are high, the team will bank on Bhuvneshwar Kumar's experience and will require him to take wickets, particularly with the new ball.

Arshdeep Singh (Punjab Kings)

Arshdeep is a highly skilled operator with the new ball and has developed a reputation for picking wickets regularly inside the powerplay. Very seldom does he go wicketless inside the powerplay. Moreover, he is equally a very capable bowler in the death overs and is skilled enough to execute pinpoint yorkers. Arshdeep has grown in stature over the years, and as a result, his repertoire has also expanded as well. He is the highest wicket-taker for his franchise this season with 18 scalps across 15 games. His average stands at an impressive 26.55, whereas his strike rate is astonishingly low (18.11). His superb spell of 3-16 against DC helped PBKS register a comfortable 37-run win. Although his form in the recent two games has been concerning, Arshdeep continues to be a potent threat to the batting opposition.