Mumbai Indians, led by Bumrah, face Punjab Kings in a battle for the final spot
Mumbai Indians, led by Bumrah, face Punjab Kings in a battle for the final spot
IPL 2025 Qualifier 2: Punjab Kings Eye Historic Final Spot against Five-time Champions, Mumbai Indians, with Experience and Class.
After two months of intense matches and travel, only three teams remain in IPL 2025: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Punjab Kings (PBKS), and Mumbai Indians (MI). RCB has already secured a spot in the final, while MI and PBKS will battle it out on Sunday for the remaining spot.
It’s a showdown between a five-time champion and a team chasing its first-ever title. Hardik Pandya vs Shreyas Iyer, Jasprit Bumrah vs Arshdeep Singh, Suryakumar Yadav vs Josh Inglis, Trent Boult vs Kyle Jamieson this knockout match promises fireworks.
How They Got Here
MI had a rough start, sitting near the bottom of the table in mid-April with just one win in five games. But they bounced back in classic MI fashion, storming into the playoffs and eliminating Gujarat Titans (GT) on Friday. PBKS, on the other hand, dominated the league phase, finishing at the top before suffering a heavy defeat against RCB in Qualifier 1.
PBKS earned a second chance at the final after beating MI earlier this week in Jaipur. Another win on Sunday would make them first-time IPL champions.
Team Strengths
PBKS has an unusual batting lineup, featuring four uncapped Indian batters in their top seven. Under Ricky Ponting and Shreyas Iyer, they’ve become an explosive unit, scoring 200+ runs in seven of their 15 innings. While they struggled on the tricky pitch in New Chandigarh, they could thrive on the flatter surface in Ahmedabad.
MI, in contrast, relies on experienced international players, with only one uncapped batter in their top seven. Jonny Bairstow seamlessly replaced Ryan Rickelton as an opener, setting the stage for a 200+ total on Friday. Suryakumar Yadav and Pandya have been delivering big hits in the middle order, but Bumrah remains their biggest weapon, turning 20-over innings into 16.
Despite missing Deepak Chahar due to injury and dealing with dew in the Eliminator, MI still dominated, with Bumrah yorking Washington Sundar. The big question: Can PBKS find a way to stop him?
Key Players to Watch
->Shreyas Iyer: Struggled in New Chandigarh, scoring just 27 runs in five innings. A flatter pitch in Ahmedabad could help his aggressive style. He has hit 31 sixes this season, trailing only Suryakumar Yadav (35), Mitchell Marsh (37), and Nicholas Pooran (40).
->Hardik Pandya: Has shifted from an anchor role to a power hitter as MI’s captain. In the final overs (17-20), he has smashed 109 runs off 53 balls at a strike rate of 205.66, second only to Heinrich Klaasen (237.03).
Both teams have deep batting lineups, allowing Iyer and Pandya to play with more freedom.
Team News & Possible XI
->Yuzvendra Chahal is set to return after missing PBKS’ last three matches due to a wrist injury. If PBKS bats first, he might come in as an Impact Player in the second innings.
->Deepak Chahar and Richard Gleeson are recovering from hamstring injuries. Chahar missed the Eliminator, while Gleeson left the field during the final over on Friday. Their availability for Qualifier 2 is uncertain.
Mumbai Indians (Probable XI)
Rohit Sharma, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (capt), Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Raj Bawa, Richard Gleeson, Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult, Ashwani Kumar
This match is set to be a thrilling battle for a place in the IPL 2025 final!