'Bengaluru team has had four days off' - Sunil Gavaskar makes bold claim ahead of RCB vs PBKS IPL 2025 final

The Indian Premier League is all set to witness a new champion as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) lock horns with Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the final of the 18th edition at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on June 3. Ahead of the contest, legendary Indian batter Sunil Gavaskar has stated a crucial factor that could give an upper hand to one of the teams.

The Rajat Patidar-led side had a smooth run into the final, having sealed their spot with a clinical eight-wicket win over PBKS in Qualifier 1 on May 29. The victory gave them an important four-day break ahead of the finals. While PBKS had to take the longer route, bouncing back with a brilliant five-wicket win over Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2, which ended on June 2. The former feels this gap might play a heavy role when the two come against each other.

"It certainly does help. And for the Punjab Kings, I think also the fact that they just get a day's break before the final, and the match also finished so late against Mumbai Indians - that doesn't give too much time for the body to recover. Yes, I know it's a late evening game, it's a 7:30 start, but the body certainly need a lot of rest after the exertions of the previous day. Punjab has, like I said, just 24 hours or so to recover, which is not enough after the efforts they put in to beat Mumbai Indians. The Bengaluru team has had four days off, so they will certainly be mentally and physically far more refreshed than the Punjab team when they enter the frame," he said as quoted by India Today.

Gavaskar also expressed his views about RCB not playing in Ahmedabad this season, which could act as a potential disadvantage. 

"Not so much of an advantage. Like I said, I think it's the fact that RCB are coming into the final with a string of absolutely brilliant performances with both bat and ball. So I don't think they'll be daunted by the fact that they haven't played here," he added.