Australia captain feels "sorry" for Virat Kohli, warns RCB of PBKS spoiling the party in IPL 2025 Final

The stage is set for the most anticipated IPL 2025 final between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Tuesday, June 3, and the spotlight is burning hotter on Virat Kohli and the team than ever before.

While both Punjab- and Bengaluru-based franchises are chasing their first-ever IPL title, it’s RCB who are feeling the weight of history the most.

With three heartbreaking final losses in 2009, 2011, and 2016 already haunting them, and a fan base of over 20 million roaring for glory, the stakes couldn’t be higher as they just want to see RCB end their 18-year title drought on Tuesday.

SHORTS

View More

Your daily dose of cricket!

Loading...

Alyssa Healy says PBKS could spoil RCB's party in IPL 2025 Final

Ahead of the title clash in Ahmedabad, Australia Women's skipper Alyssa Healy has suggested that RCB is facing more pressure than PBKS in the final.

With unmatched star power, massive global support, and a legacy still lacking that elusive trophy, she said RCB would be desperate to lift the trophy.

Read Also: Virat Kohli set for BBL stint after Test retirement? Cricket Australia CEO drops bold statement

On the other side, PBKS are marching in with nothing to lose and everything to gain in the mega clash. Healy noted that the calm, confident, and hungry Punjab Kings look ready to crash RCB’s party and steal the title when it matters most in the summit clash in Ahmedabad.

All the pressure is on RCB to win title: Alyssa Healy

Alyssa Healy said on the LiSTNR Sport podcast, “Neither team has obviously ever won before. There's going to be a little bit of panic at some point out there. RCB would really want to win, having come so close in the past. I feel like all the pressure is on RCB to win this title. Especially with the way they have shaped up all year. But Punjab is just going to come along and steal it from them.”

When RCB takes the field against the PBKS in Ahmedabad, all eyes will be fixed on Virat Kohli. The former captain has done everything, winning the 2012 ODI World Cup, the 2024 T20 World Cup, the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, and the Orange Cap twice, but the IPL title has still stayed out of reach.

Kohli has shown great form like he did in 2016 and 2024, but RCB couldn’t win the trophy then, scoring over 600 runs, and now, he has the best chance to lift the trophy, but Australian speedster Mitchell Starc’s wife Healy, feels he will be immense under pressure in the final.

Read Also: Ravichandran Ashwin accuses Shreyas Iyer of stealing PBKS' success credit from these 3 players

Alyssa Healy feels sorry for Virat Kohli!!

The Australian captain pointed out that Virat Kohli, as the face of the RCB, bears the brunt of disappointment every time the franchise falls short. She noted how Virat handles pressure in the final; it will decide the Bengaluru-based franchise’s fate against the PBKS.

Healy signed off by saying, “I feel sorry for him. Every time they haven't won, it's like it's his fault. It's not per se. But he is the face of the organization, and it's like, 'Oh, Virat has lost it again.' It's not so much for RCB, but 'Virat still hasn't won the IPL trophy.' So, the pressure is all on him. And that side is going to rely a lot on Virat Kohli to get RCB to that trophy.”