Punjab Kings Face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2025 Qualifier 1
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.