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PK vs RCB Qualifier 1 – May 29, 2025, Mohali

PK vs RCB Qualifier 1 – May 29, 2025, Mohali

harikrishnan05 mins

Match Context

With the IPL 2025 league stage wrapped up, the top two teams—Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru—face off in Qualifier 1 for a direct berth in the final. The stakes couldn’t be higher: the winner advances straight to the title match, while the loser gets another shot in Qualifier 2.

Venue Spotlight: New PCA Stadium, Mohali

  • Capacity & Conditions: Home ground for Punjab Kings, Mohali offers fast, bouncy pitches with predictable bounce under the floodlights. Evening dew can aid spinners in the latter half.
  • Home Advantage: Punjab’s familiarity with boundary dimensions and pitch quirks could tip the scales in their favor.

Punjab Kings: Strengths & XI Analysis

Form: Finished second in the league, winning seven of their last eight matches.
Batting Core:

  • Prabhsimran Singh & Priyansh Arya: Explosive openers who have laid solid foundations.
  • Josh Inglis: Middle-order aggressor; able to accelerate in Powerplays and death overs.
  • Shreyas Iyer (c): The captain’s calm leadership and timing make him the lynchpin.
    All-Round Balance:
  • Marcus Stoinis: The match-winner with bat and ball; his ability to clear boundaries revs up the run rate.
  • Azmatullah Omarzai & Harpreet Brar: Spin options to control the middle overs.
    Pace Battery:
  • Kyle Jamieson & Arshdeep Singh: A potent new-ball duo for swing and early breakthroughs.
  • Yuzvendra Chahal / Vijaykumar Vyshak: Leg-spin variations to exploit Mohali turn.

Probable Playing XI:
 Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya, Josh Inglis, Shreyas Iyer (c), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Azmatullah Omarzai, Harpreet Brar, Kyle Jamieson, Arshdeep Singh

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Firepower & Tactics

Form: Clinched top spot in the league, buoyed by dominant batting displays.
Batting Line-up:

  • Virat Kohli & Phil Salt: The opening pair has combined classical strokeplay with modern power.
  • Rajat Patidar & Mayank Agarwal: Perfect at rotating strike and building partnerships.
  • Liam Livingstone: The X-factor—capable of 360-degree hitting.
  • Jitesh Sharma (c): Dynamic finisher and skippers with tactical nous.
    Bowling Unit:
  • Romario Shepherd & Krunal Pandya: Seam-up swingers who excel at death overs.
  • Bhuvneshwar Kumar: The swing specialist, lethal with the new ball and in the slog.
  • Josh Hazlewood / Nuwan Thushara: Height and precision to challenge batters.
  • Yash Dayal: Goa-grown pacer with raw pace.

Probable Playing XI:
 Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Rajat Patidar, Mayank Agarwal, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (c), Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood

Key Battles to Watch

  • Iyer vs. Shepherd: Shreyas Iyer’s timing against Shepherd’s slower bouncers.
  • Stoinis vs. Livingstone: Power-hitting heavyweights vying for control of the middle overs.
  • Kohli vs. Arshdeep Singh: The returning India pacer’s new-ball swing against cricket’s modern legend.

Prediction & Outlook

Punjab’s home conditions give them a slender edge, but RCB’s batting depth makes them formidable. Expect a high-scoring thriller, where even a few overs of tight bowling could decide the outcome.

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