New Delhi: Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Mumbai Indians (MI) are all in readiness to lock horns for one final time in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 as they clash in the Qualifier 2 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. An all-important playoff match of the season, it would provide the winning side a ticket to the epic final, where Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) awaits them, while the losing side will be straight knocked out.
The league stage saw the two teams taking on each other just once, as Punjab had the better of Mumbai, taking away the game by seven wickets in Jaipur last week. After a dull start to their campaign, MI scripted a brilliant turnaround and ousted the likes of DC and LSG to seal the final playoff berth. The thrilling clash can be weighed with the exceptional players the two teams boast, and when they will engage in a fierce battle of bat and bowl, several face-offs are supposed to be on the tenterhooks.
In the points table, PBKS and MI and first and fourth, respectively, carrying 18 and 16 points. While PBKS won nine games and lost four (one NR), MI won eight and lost six. Talking of their net run rate, MI are way ahead of PBKS’s +0.37, boasting +1.142, courtesy of their recent resurgence in the season. They have already faced each other once in the league stage this season, and it all comes back at the Motera Stadium for one final time for the two teams.
So… what can be expected from the clash and who are the key players that carry a lot of potential to turn the game on its head when it is required the most? Let’s have a look at such players from both sides and what’s going to happen when they come head-to-head.
Next stop: Qualifier 2️⃣ 😍@mipaltan are all set to meet the @PunjabKingsIPL for a ticket to glory 🎟
Scorecard ▶ https://t.co/R4RTzjQfph#TATAIPL | #GTvMI | #Eliminator | #TheLastMile pic.twitter.com/vK0oAjcG5s
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 30, 2025
PBKS vs MI Q2 Key Battles
Arshdeep Singh vs Rohit Sharma
MI opener Rohit Sharma has returned to form as he smashed a crucial and quick fifty in the Eliminator against Gujarat Titans (GT). To counter his threat, PBKS may look to Arshdeep Singh as the left-arm pacer has dismissed Rohit once, and notably, Rohit has fallen to left-arm pace four times this season. Since 2024, across eight games, Rohit has scored 155 runs off 103 balls against left-arm quicks.
Trent Boult vs Shreyas Iyer
Another exciting encounter could be between MI’s left-arm pace spearhead Trent Boult and PBKS skipper Shreyas Iyer. Although Iyer has excelled against both spin and pace this season, it would be interesting to watch how he fares against the Kiwi speedster who will come in with the fresh ball via the traditional and lethal left-arm run-up trajectory. Another battle on the tenterhooks for sure!
Talking about Iyer and his batting, he will be relieved to move away from New Chandigarh, where he only managed 27 runs in five games. On the contrary, he has scored 489 runs from 10 away matches this season. Moreover, the enormous Ahmedabad ground should lift his spirits as he began the season here with a dominating 97 against GT.
Jasprit Bumrah vs Priyansh Arya
The MI seamers have been in good form with the new ball, having picked 23 wickets at a strike rate of 21.6, which should be a nice jab to contain the free-flowing stroke play of the Punjab openers like Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh. It is bound to be a spicy encounter when the young gun Priyansh will be up against the all-time great Bumrah, who carries a lot of experience, and it would be interesting to see if Priyansh will be able to give a perfect answer to his deadly throws.
PBKS and MI are all set to vie for a ticket to the IPL 2025 final, in the Qualifier 2 clash scheduled on Sunday. Here are some of the key battles that can have a larger impact on the game, making it decisive. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
