I Have a Strong Feeling the Final Is Between RCB, Punjab Kings: Robin Uthappa
Speaking on JioHotstar’s Kuhl Fans Match Centre Live, Uthappa praised Punjab’s momentum, RCB’s bowling form, and backed both to reach the IPL 2025 final.
Speaking exclusively on Kuhl Fans Match Centre Live on JioHotstar, former Indian cricketer and JioStar expert Robin Uthappa expressed confidence in a potential blockbuster IPL final between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Punjab Kings, praising both teams for peaking at the right time.
“You want momentum at the right point in the tournament,” said Uthappa, reflecting on Punjab’s dominant win. “They started strong, lost steam mid-season, but regained it just in time for the play-offs. Even with a couple of players leaving for national duty, their squad depth — especially in the batting — looks very solid. Arshdeep Singh hasn’t quite fired yet, and that actually augurs well for them. I have a strong feeling the final is going to be between RCB and Punjab.”
On Mumbai Indians’ Missed Opportunity
Uthappa was critical of Mumbai Indians' (MI) approach in a crucial league match, stating:
“They had 46% dot balls — that’s far too high when setting a target. A few boundaries or singles instead could’ve made a 205–210 total possible. Instead, they looked desperate for wickets while defending, which hurt their execution. The pressure to leap from fourth to first clearly affected their performance. Now they finish fourth.”
Praise for Inglis and Young Guns
On Josh Inglis, Uthappa remarked:
“He gave a proper masterclass. This is what title-winning teams do — Indian players carry the season, and overseas players like Inglis step up when it matters most.”
On young sensation Priyansh Arya, Uthappa was equally impressed:
“To deliver such a performance in a high-stakes game shows he has the temperament for big occasions. He rotated the strike brilliantly, communicated well with Inglis, and played to his strengths.”
On Shreyas Iyer and Leadership
Applauding Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy, Uthappa said:
“He’s always been a strong leader. At KKR, he seemed underappreciated despite his contributions. Now, he’s taken a historically underperforming side and turned them into champions — that speaks volumes about his leadership.”
RCB’s Big Test Tonight
Looking ahead to tonight’s key clash — RCB vs LSG at 7:30 PM, Uthappa remained bullish on RCB’s play-off hopes.
“I’ve said it before — Punjab and RCB are the ones to watch. RCB have the momentum and their bowling is clicking. Virat Kohli has to anchor the innings, bat deep, and apply pressure. The return of Josh Hazlewood helps, and Yash Dayal has been reliable at the death. If Suyash regains discipline and Krunal Pandya continues his tight spells, they’ll be tough to beat.”
