Punjab Kings Face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2025 Qualifier 1

The IPL 2025 Qualifier 1 features a thrilling clash between Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium. Both teams finished the league stage with 19 points, but PBKS secured the top position due to a superior net run rate. With key players like Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer in action, fans can expect an exciting match. The pitch favors batters, and the weather is expected to be hot. Discover the probable line-ups and head-to-head stats as these two teams vie for a spot in the finals.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 28, 2025, 15:02 IST

Match Overview

The Punjab Kings (PBKS) are set to take on the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the first qualifier of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur.

Match Details

Match: Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Qualifier 1, IPL 2025

Date: Thursday, May 29, 2025

Time: 7:30 PM IST

Venue: Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur

Live Streaming: Star Sports Network & JioCinema

Head-to-Head Record

Head-to-Head Stats
Total Matches	35
Wins by Punjab Kings	18
Wins by Royal Challengers Bengaluru	17
Tied/NR	0
Last 5 Matches Result	PBKS: 1, RCB: 4

In their IPL history, PBKS and RCB have clashed 35 times, with PBKS securing 18 victories compared to RCB's 17. RCB triumphed in their most recent match against PBKS.

Team Previews for Qualifier 1

Punjab Kings (PBKS)

The Punjab Kings kicked off their IPL 2025 journey with consecutive wins but faced challenges with two losses in three subsequent matches. They managed to recover, finishing the league stage with nine wins out of fourteen. Yuzvendra Chahal, who missed the last few games, is anticipated to return for this crucial match.

Key Players for PBKS: Shreyas Iyer, Arshdeep Singh, Priyansh Arya, Y Chahal

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)

RCB has shown remarkable performance this season, particularly in away games, remaining unbeaten. Their four losses occurred at Chinnaswamy Stadium. Josh Hazlewood, absent from the last match, is expected to rejoin the squad, while Tim David is likely to take Liam Livingstone's place.

Virat Kohli will be under the spotlight to lead the team effectively. Jitesh Sharma's recent form is a significant boost for the team, although Rajat Patidar's performance raises some concerns.

Key Players for RCB: Virat Kohli, Josh Hazlewood

Probable Playing XI

Punjab Kings: Priyansh Arya, Shreyas Iyer (capt), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Xavier Bartlett, Harpreet Brar, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Owen

Impact Subs: Suyansh Shedge, Pravin Dubey, Yash Thakur, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Prabhsimran Singh (wk)

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Mayank Agarwal, Rajat Patidar, Romario Shepherd, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal

Impact Subs: Suyash Sharma, Rasikh Dar, Swastik Chikara, Swapnil Singh

Pitch and Weather Conditions

Pitch Report

The pitch is expected to favor batsmen, making chasing a viable strategy for both teams. The average score at this venue is around 166, with spinners having a slight edge over fast bowlers.

Weather Report

On match day, Mullanpur is forecasted to be hot and predominantly sunny, with temperatures reaching approximately 38°C. A brief rain shower may occur in the early afternoon, but conditions should clear up before the match begins.

Conclusion

Entering this match, Royal Challengers Bengaluru are favored due to their strong away performance and powerful batting lineup. Conversely, Punjab Kings will depend on their bowlers to step up once again.