PBKS vs RCB, IPL Qualifier 1: The league stage is done and dusted and we now move to the playoffs - the business end of IPL 2025. Shreyas Iyer-led Punjab Kings (PBKS) will lock horns with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the first playoff action - the Qualifier 1 - at Mullanpur on Thursday. The stakes are high as both franchises are vying for maiden IPL glory and one will surely move a step closer to the dream.
RCB head into the contest after a commanding victory over Lucknow Super Giants earlier this week, which pushed them to the second spot on the points table. The team made easy work of a staggering 228-run target, chasing it down with four balls to spare. However, the attack against PBKS appear to be more challenging than Lucknow and it'll be interesting to see how they tackle it. Arshdeep Singh is a force to reckon with both at the start and in the death overs. Joining him will be Kyle Jamieson, Azmatullah Omarzai, and former RCB man Vijaykumar Vyshak.
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Meanwhile, the spin department look equally equipped with Yuzvendra Chahal expected to be fit for the match and joining him will be Harpreet Brar, who has impressed despite the limited opportunities.
For RCB, the onus will be on their talisman Virat Kohli, who is in red hot form. He will look to produce a statement knock and take the team to the final and will hope for some assist from opening partner Phil Salt. If the duo explodes and with Jitesh Sharma, Tim David, and Liam Livingstone to follow it could well be RCB's day.
The franchise will also be boosted with Josh Hazlewood's return, who has been declared fit. For Punjab, the batting responsibility lies on the top order, who appear a bit inexperience considering the occasion. Both Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya are uncapped and it will be a huge test for the young duo. Shreyas Iyer and Josh Inglis too will have to shoulder the responsibility as we've seen them doing in the previous matches. The Aussie wicketkeeper-batter played a key role in PBKS' seven-wicket win against Mumbai Indians, which powered the franchise to the pole position.
Iyer, on the other hand, is a man on mission and will look to become the first captain to win two successive IPL trophies with different franchises. He has been the mainstay of PBKS batting line-up and has accumulated over 500 runs from 14 matches at a strike-rate of over 170.
PBKS vs RCB, IPL Qualifier 1: What to expect
It is expected to be a hot affair both competition and temperature wise in the evening. The average first innings score at the venue this season has been 173. Captains winning the toss may be tempted to bat first considering the recent trend, which has witnessed three of the four games won by the team batting first.
PBKS vs RCB, IPL Qualifier 1: Head to head
There is not much difference in the head-to-head record between the two franchises. PBKS, who have the advantage, have won 18 times, while RCB have prevailed on 17 occasions. The current season has seen both teams winning a match each.
PBKS vs RCB, IPL Qualifier 1: Dream 11 predictions
Punjab Kings (Probable XI): Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya, Josh Inglis, Shreyas Iyer (c), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Azmatullah Omarzai, Harpreet Brar, Kyle Jamieson, Vijaykumar Vyshak/Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Probable XI): Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Rajat Patidar, Mayank Agarawal, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (c), Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Nuwan Thushara/Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma
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