IPL 2025 Qualifier 1 Prediction: Cricket Tips, Potential Lineups, Pitch Analysis for Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bangalore
Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru Square Off in IPL Qualifier 1
Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will face off at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur for the Qualifier 1 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.
Shreyas Iyer, the first-year captain of PBKS, has steered the team to its first playoff appearance since 2014. The team secured nine wins and only four losses during the round-robin stage, with one game being washed out. Their latest victory came against Mumbai Indians in Jaipur, securing them a place in Qualifier 1.
RCB has reached the top two for the first time since 2016, ending the league stage as the second-placed team behind PBKS. Both teams had identical win-loss records, but PBKS' net run rate edged out RCB. RCB concluded their league campaign with a thrilling win against Lucknow Super Giants, successfully chasing down a record 228-run target.
Previously, these two teams clashed twice during the league phase. PBKS emerged victorious at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, but RCB avenged the defeat in Mullanpur.
Mullanpur's Pitch Report
Mullanpur has hosted nine IPL games, averaging a first-innings score of 174. The venue has seen four matches won by batting first teams, with three victories coming from teams setting up a total.
Dream11 Prediction and Team
Here's a possible Dream11 lineup:
Wicketkeepers: Philip Salt
Batters: Priyansh Arya, Shreyas Iyer, Virat Kohli
All-Rounders: Marcus Stoinis, Krunal Pandya
Bowlers: Harpreet Brar, Arshdeep Singh, Suyash Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Match Details
- Date & Time: May 29, 7:30 PM LOCAL
- Venue: Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, Chandigarh
Predicted Playing XIs
Punjab Kings:- Priyansh Arya- Josh Inglis (wk)- Shreyas Iyer (c)- Nehal Wadhera- Shashank Singh- Marcus Stoinis- Azmatullah- Harpreet Brar- Kyle Jamieson- Vijaykumar Vyshak- Arshdeep Singh
Royal Challengers Bengaluru:- Philip Salt (wk)- Virat Kohli- Mayank Agarawal- Tim David- Jitesh Sharma (c)- Romario Shepherd- Krunal Pandya- Bhuvneshwar Kumar- Yash Dayal- Josh Hazlewood- Suyash Sharma
Additional Information
The exact lineup for RCB may vary, with some key players expected to feature prominently, including Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and Josh Hazlewood. Specific details for the PBKS lineup are not provided. Keep an eye out for more updates closer to the match.
In the midst of the IPL 2025, two powerhouse teams, Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, face off in Qualifier 1, returning to the very venue where they last crossed swords - the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, India. Amidst the backdrop of COVID-19, Bollywood, cricket, and sports continue to captivate the nation as fans eagerly anticipate this high-stakes encounter.
