Both Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru will be looking to carry their strong form from the group stage into Qualifier 1 of IPL 2025. While the top two teams in the points table get two chances to qualify for the final, both Punjab and RCB will aim to seal a direct spot in the summit clash with a win today. Punjab finished first in the league stage, while RCB secured the second spot.
Punjab Reach Playoffs After 11 Years
Punjab Kings have made it to the playoffs for the first time since 2014. A large part of the credit goes to captain Shreyas Iyer and head coach Ricky Ponting, who have transformed the team’s culture and performance. On the other hand, RCB have had their share of heartbreaks in knockout stages over the years and are now eyeing their first-ever IPL title. As the teams themselves have put it – “the job is only half done.”
Will Chahal Make a Comeback?
Openers Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya have consistently provided solid starts, setting the stage for players like Iyer and Josh Inglis in the middle order. Finisher Shashank Singh has shown significant improvement in his role, while Marcus Stoinis has added firepower to the batting lineup.
However, Punjab’s major concern lies in their bowling attack, especially after the departure of South African pacer Marco Jansen, who returned home for national duties. Jansen was crucial in the powerplay and death overs, and his absence could hurt the team.
Kyle Jamieson showed promise in his debut game but will need to step up further. Afghan all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai could also replace Jansen in the lineup. Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal missed the last two games due to a finger injury, but he is expected to return for this crucial match and form a solid spin duo with the reliable Harpreet Brar.
Also Read- PBKS vs RCB Qualifier 1 Pitch Report – Mullanpur Stadium Today Match
RCB Will Rely on Kohli Again
RCB also faced injury concerns towards the end of the league stage, but most of them seem to have been resolved. Pacer Josh Hazlewood is expected to be fully fit, and Tim David is also available for selection, bringing more balance to the squad. Historically, RCB have heavily depended on their top order, but the emergence of players like Jitesh Sharma in the middle order signals a shift in their approach.
Jitesh played the best innings of his IPL career just a few nights ago, and his confidence will be sky-high heading into this clash. It will also be crucial for Phil Salt to provide an explosive start in the powerplay and for Virat Kohli to continue his consistent form throughout the tournament.
Predicted Playing XIs for Qualifier 1:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru:
Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Mayank Agarwal/Rajat Patidar (Captain), Tim David, Jitesh Sharma (Wicketkeeper), Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma
Punjab Kings:
Priyansh Arya, Josh Inglis (Wicketkeeper), Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Azmatullah Omarzai, Harpreet Brar, Kyle Jamieson, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh
