The 18th season of the IPL is nearing its conclusion as the tournament heads into the playoff stage. Four teams have qualified: Punjab Kings (PBKS) secured the top spot, followed by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in second, Gujarat Titans (GT) in third, and Mumbai Indians (MI) in fourth place.
The real action begins from 29 May, with PBKS facing off against RCB in Qualifier 1 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, Chandigarh. The two sides have met 33 times previously, with PBKS winning 17 matches and RCB close behind with 16 victories.
PBKS, RCB battle for the final spot
With the advantage of playing at home, PBKS will look to become the first team to secure a spot in the IPL 2025 final by defeating a strong RCB side. Unlike last season, PBKS have shown significant improvement. They finished ninth last year but have turned things around this time with nine wins and just four losses.
This qualifier holds special significance for PBKS, as they have reached the playoffs after an 11-year gap. Under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer, who is making his debut season with the franchise, the team has flourished. Iyer has impressed both with the bat and his captaincy. RCB, meanwhile, are also hunting for their maiden IPL title and will be determined to secure a direct ticket to the final with a win today.
Predicted XI for PBKS:
Shreyas Iyer (C), Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya, Arshdeep Singh, Josh Inglis, Nehal Wadhera, Marco Jansen, Harpreet Brar, Vyshak Vijay Kumar, Azmatullah Omarzai, Marcus Stoinis.
Predicted XI for RCB:
Jitesh Sharma (C), Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Romario Shepherd, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mayank Agarwal, Krunal Pandya, Suyash Sharma, Liam Livingstone, Rajat Patidar.
Live Telecast:
The match will be broadcast live on the Star Sports Network in India.
Streaming:
Live streaming will be available across India on the JioCinema app and website.
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