Qualifier 1 of IPL 2025 in Mullanpur promises to be an exciting battle between two teams eager for their first-ever IPL title – Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). This marks the first time since 2014 that PBKS has made it to the playoffs, while RCB has been a regular contender, though their last appearance in the top two came in 2016.
Both teams share some similarities this season. PBKS has thrived with its uncapped Indian players, while RCB, despite being home to cricket’s biggest superstars, has embraced a more balanced squad. Captain Rajat Patidar and vice-captain Jitesh Sharma have been central to their success.
In terms of injury updates, both teams are dealing with key absences. PBKS will be without all-rounder Marco Jansen, who has returned to South Africa for the World Test Championship (WTC) final. On the other hand, RCB will miss Tim David due to a hamstring injury. However, Josh Hazlewood is set to return for RCB after a shoulder rehab, bolstering their attack.
The battle of the captains will also be crucial, with Shreyas Iyer and Virat Kohli leading their respective sides. Both are the top run-scorers for their teams, and their performances will likely be the deciding factor. While Kohli has been in excellent form, Shreyas has struggled in Mullanpur, scoring just 25 runs in four innings at the venue.
Team News: PBKS and RCB Likely XIs
For PBKS, with Jansen’s absence, the team could bring in Azmatullah Omarzai or one of Xavier Bartlett and Vijaykumar Vyshak, though this might compromise their batting depth.
Punjab Kings (Probable XI):
- Priyansh Arya
- Prabhsimran Singh
- Josh Inglis (wk)
- Shreyas Iyer (capt)
- Nehal Wadhera
- Shashank Singh
- Marcus Stoinis
- Azmatullah Omarzai
- Kyle Jamieson
- Harpreet Brar
- Arshdeep Singh
- Yuzvendra Chahal
For RCB, Hazlewood‘s return means they may have to rejig their overseas combination, potentially dropping Nuwan Thushara to make space for him.
Royal Challengers Bangalore (Probable XI):
- Virat Kohli
- Phil Salt
- Mayank Agarwal
- Rajat Patidar (capt)
- Jitesh Sharma (wk)
- Krunal Pandya
- Liam Livingstone
- Romario Shepherd
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar
- Yash Dayal
- Josh Hazlewood
- Suyash Sharma
Pitch and Conditions
Mullanpur has hosted four IPL games this season, with mixed results – two games saw high scores of over 200, while the other two had all-out totals of under 120. The pitch will likely play a pivotal role in Thursday’s game, with temperatures expected to hover around 30°C and no rain forecast.
Key Stats to Watch:
- Shreyas Iyer’s strike rate of 171.90 is second only to Nicholas Pooran among the top 10 run-scorers this season. However, he has struggled against several RCB bowlers, with Josh Hazlewood dismissing him three times in 19 balls in T20 cricket.
- Arshdeep Singh has a strong record against Phil Salt, dismissing him four times in 32 balls while conceding just 25 runs.
- Mayank Agarwal has an average of just 12.00 against Yuzvendra Chahal, having been dismissed six times for 72 runs in the IPL.
In the Spotlight: Shreyas Iyer and Virat Kohli
Both captains are crucial to their team’s chances. Kohli, who was named Player of the Match earlier this season when these two teams met, has been in excellent form, amassing 608 runs at a strike rate of 147.91. Shreyas, despite his recent struggles, will need to lead from the front and overcome his poor record in Mullanpur if PBKS is to succeed.
The Big Question:
Who will make the bigger impact in Qualifier 1: Shreyas Iyer or Virat Kohli?
The answer could very well decide which team advances to the final.
