The IPL 2025 Qualifier 1 match will be played between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on Thursday. PBKS and RCB have qualified for the playoffs by finishing in the top two in the points table. The teams in the top two get two chances to reach the final, so Punjab and Bengaluru would like to take advantage of it and would like to reach the Final of IPL 2025.
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Punjab Kings Reached the Playoffs after 11 Years
Punjab Kings have made it to the playoffs for the first time since 2014. The credit for this goes to the pair of captain Shreyas Iyer and head coach Ricky Ponting who changed the culture of the team. Royal Challengers Bengaluru, on the other hand, have suffered multiple defeats in the knockout stage and are hoping to end their title drought this time around. In their own words, the job is only half done for both the title contenders.
Bowling is Reason to Concern for Punjab Kings
The bowling department is a cause of concern for Punjab Kings, especially after the departure of South African pacer Marco Jansen, who has returned home to play for the national team. Jansen bowled crucial overs in the powerplay and death overs and the team will surely miss him. Kyle Jamieson has raised some hopes in his first match, but he will have to bowl better to make an impact. Azmatullah Omarzai could also replace Jansen.
BCCI Extended the Match Time
Royal Challengers Bengaluru was also concerned about the injury of some players in the final stages of the tournament but that has been largely resolved. Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood is expected to be fully fit and Tim David will also be available for selection, which will bring more balance to the team.
This match between the two teams will be played at Mullanpur which is also Punjab’s home ground. Rain has affected some matches this season, but the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has now kept an extra hour for the match so that there is hope of the match in case of rain.
There is No Reserve Day for Punjab vs Bengaluru Match
No reserve day has been kept for the match between PBKS and RCB and if the match is washed out due to rain, Punjab Kings can benefit from it. Actually, PBKS team was at the first position in the group stage and if rain interrupts this match and the match is cancelled, then it will qualify for the final due to being at the top and RCB will have to win the Qualifier 2 match to reach the title match.
The weather is expected to be clear on the day of the match in Mullanpur. According to the Meteorological Department, there is one percent chance of rain during this time, while there is a 50 percent chance of cloudy sky. However, Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru as well as cricket fans would like the match to be held without any interruption.
Good News for Players and Fans
According to AccuWeather, as of now there is no chance of rain. The temperature is expected to be up to 32 degrees Celsius and the humidity level is expected to be between 30 to 40 degrees. The wind speed is expected to be 20 kmph. This can give some relief to the players.
The sky is expected to be clear and in such a situation cricket fans can get to see the action of the entire match. However, the weather can change at any time, so if this happens then, Punjab Kings will directly confirm their place in the final sue to better run rate.
Although, the chances of rain are negligible, but if it rains and the match does not result in a result, then the Punjab Kings team will directly enter the final. This is because at the end of the league stage, Punjab Kings were at the top of the points table.
Net Run Rate of Both the Teams
At the end of the league stage, the Punjab Kings team was at the top of the points table with 19 points. The net run rate of Shreyas Iyer-led Punjab Kings was +0.372. It had won 9 out of 14 matches. While, the Royal Challengers Bangalore also has 19 points, but Rajat Patidar-led Royal Challengers Bengaluru remained in second place due to net run rate +0.301.