IPL 2025 Qualifier 2: Punjab Kings vs Mumbai Indians Match Preview
Match Overview: PBKS vs MI
The second qualifier of IPL 2025 will see the Punjab Kings (PBKS) take on the Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, June 1. The victorious team will secure a place in the final against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Punjab Kings' Season Highlights
Under Shreyas Iyer's captaincy, PBKS has had an impressive season, making it to the playoffs for just the third time in their franchise history. The batting lineup has been strengthened by Priyansh Arya's explosive century earlier in the season, alongside consistent contributions from Marcus Stoinis and Josh Inglis. In bowling, Arshdeep Singh has emerged as a key player, becoming the all-time leading wicket-taker for PBKS in IPL history. Despite their limited playoff experience, PBKS is determined to leverage their current momentum to reach the final.
Mumbai Indians' Resilience
The Mumbai Indians, captained by Hardik Pandya, have shown their ability to perform under pressure. Following a 20-run victory over the Gujarat Titans in the Eliminator, MI aims to extend their winning streak. Their batting lineup includes veterans like Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav, while Jasprit Bumrah leads the bowling attack. However, MI's past performances at the Narendra Modi Stadium have not been particularly strong, which could present a challenge in this pivotal match.
Match Details
| Match Information: PBKS vs MI | |
| Venue | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad |
| Date and Time | 1 June, 7:30 PM IST |
| Live Broadcast | Star Sports |
| Live Streaming | JioHotstar (app and website) |
Pitch Analysis
The pitch at Narendra Modi Stadium is expected to favor batsmen, with the average first innings score in recent IPL matches being around 203 runs. This match is likely to showcase a competitive battle between bat and ball, although the pitch tends to assist batsmen more in the second innings, providing limited help to bowlers except for well-placed deliveries. Teams winning the toss may prefer to field first.
Head-to-Head Statistics
| Head-to-Head: PBKS vs MI in IPL | |
| Total Matches | 33 |
| Wins by Punjab Kings | 15 |
| Wins by Mumbai Indians | 17 |
| Tied Matches | 1 |
| No Result | 0 |
Expected Playing XI
- Punjab Kings: Shreyas Iyer (c), Harpreet Brar, Azmatullah Omarzai, Prabhsimran Singh, Josh Inglis (wk), Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Nehal Wadhera, Kyle Jamieson, Arshdeep Singh, Priyansh Arya. (Impact Subs: Vijaykumar Vyshak, Musheer Ahmed Khan, Yuzvendra Chahal, Xavier Bartlett, Praveen Dubey, Harnoor Singh)
- Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya (c), Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Richard Gleeson, Tilak Varma, Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult, Raj Angad Bawa. (Impact Subs: Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Karn Sharma, Robin Minz, Ashwini Kumar, Satyanarayana Raju, Bevon Jacobs)
Toss Insights
Historical Toss Trends at the Venue
- In the last five IPL matches held here, the teams winning the toss opted to bowl each time.
Benefits of Bowling First
- Out of 43 IPL matches played at this venue, teams batting first have won 21 times, while teams fielding first have also secured 21 victories. Given the recent toss outcomes and statistics, it appears that teams choosing to field first have a slight edge over those batting first.
Match Predictions
Scenario 1
- Toss Winner: Punjab Kings (chooses to bowl first)
- Power-Play Score: 50-55
- MI Total: 180-195
- Predicted Match Winner: Punjab Kings
Scenario 2
- Toss Winner: Mumbai Indians (chooses to bowl first)
- Power-Play Score: 55-60
- PBKS Total: 190-210
- Predicted Match Winner: Mumbai Indians
Final Thoughts on PBKS vs MI
After suffering a defeat against RCB in the first qualifier, Punjab Kings will be looking to bounce back, while Mumbai Indians come off a confident win against GT. This sets the stage for an exciting match where MI may have the upper hand.