Punjab Kings and RCB battle for a spot in the final?
Punjab Kings and RCB battle for a spot in the final?
IPL 2025: PBKS and RCB will battle for a place in the IPL 2025 final during Qualifier 1. No Marco Jansen For PBKS
Qualifier 1 of IPL 2025 in Mullanpur will be a battle between two teams with a shared history. Both Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are chasing their first-ever IPL title. PBKS have reached the playoffs for the first time since 2014, when they topped the league but lost the final to Kolkata Knight Riders. RCB, on the other hand, have been regulars in the playoffs but last finished in the top two in 2016, only to lose the final to Sunrisers Hyderabad.
PBKS' success this season has been driven by their young Indian players, while RCB, known for their star-studded lineups, have taken a different approach. Their captain, Rajat Patidar, has played just four international matches, and their vice-captain, Jitesh Sharma, has nine caps.
Both teams also have key bowlers returning from injuries. Yuzvendra Chahal, who missed PBKS' last two games due to a wrist issue, is expected to play. RCB will be strengthened by Josh Hazlewood’s return after recovering from a shoulder injury.
However, both teams will be missing an important player. PBKS all-rounder Marco Jansen has gone back to South Africa to prepare for the World Test Championship final, while RCB’s Tim David is unlikely to play due to a hamstring injury.
It’s tough to pick a favourite. PBKS might have the edge playing in Mullanpur, but RCB will be confident after beating them at this venue earlier in the season. The good news? The losing team will still have another chance to reach the final.
Spotlight on Shreyas Iyer and Virat Kohli
Shreyas Iyer and Virat Kohli are not just the most experienced batters in their teams but also their top scorers. Kohli has amassed 608 runs at a strike rate of 147.91, while Shreyas has 514 runs from 14 innings at 171.90. Both have refined their game—Shreyas has improved against pace, and Kohli has sharpened his overall intent.
However, Kohli might have the edge in this clash. Shreyas has struggled at Mullanpur, scoring just 25 runs in four innings this season. He also has a poor record against several RCB bowlers. Meanwhile, Kohli was Player of the Match when these teams last met here, scoring an unbeaten 73 off 54 balls. His animated celebration after that win seemed to irk Shreyas, setting the stage for an intense rematch.
Team News and Likely XIs
PBKS played both Marco Jansen and Kyle Jamieson in their last match, ensuring a strong bowling attack while maintaining batting depth. With Jansen unavailable, they might bring back Azmatullah Omarzai. Another option is to play Xavier Bartlett or Vijaykumar Vyshak, but that would weaken their batting lineup.
Punjab Kings (probable XI):
Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Josh Inglis (wk), Shreyas Iyer (capt), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Azmatullah Omarzai, Kyle Jamieson, Harpreet Brar, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal
For RCB, Nuwan Thushara was their standout bowler against Lucknow Super Giants, but he might make way for Josh Hazlewood. If RCB wants to play both, they’ll need to adjust their overseas combination, which could be tricky at this stage.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (probable XI):
Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Mayank Agarwal, Rajat Patidar (capt), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Krunal Pandya, Liam Livingstone, Romario Shepherd, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma
Pitch and Conditions
Mullanpur has hosted four IPL games this season, with contrasting results. The first two matches saw three 200-plus totals, indicating a batting-friendly surface. However, the last two games featured low scores 111 all out, 95 all out, and 157 for 6 suggesting a shift in pitch behaviour.
It will be interesting to see what kind of surface Mullanpur offers for this crucial match. The temperature is expected to be around 30°C, with no rain forecast.
This showdown promises fireworks, especially with the Kohli-Iyer rivalry heating up. Ready for round two?