Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will compete in the high-intensity Qualifier 1 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 for the coveted silverware. The winner will advance directly to the final when the two teams play on Thursday, May 29, at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, Chandigarh.
Both teams are in good form, having won their most recent competition match. While RCB defeated the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the final league stage match to finish second in the points table and guarantee their position in Qualifier 1 (Q1) against PBKS, Punjab defeated the Mumbai Indians (MI) to guarantee a spot in Q1 and send the latter into the Eliminator fight.
Both teams will be fired up for the forthcoming match since they want to win their first IPL trophy ever.
As already stated, here are three player battles to look out for in the Qualifier 1 match between PBKS and RCB:
1. Shreyas Iyer vs Krunal Pandya
Shreyas Iyer will probably bat at fourth position because PBKS’ top-order hitters are playing at their best right now. He is likely to encounter Krunal Pandya’s spin because openers typically take their innings long and Iyer typically walks out to bat in the middle or death overs.
Taking confidence with us into the qualifiers 🦁 ❤️ pic.twitter.com/S0hDJVs0Oq
— Shreyas Iyer (@ShreyasIyer15) May 27, 2025Over the course of 10 T20 innings, the RCB all-rounder has given up 43 runs off 51 deliveries against Iyer and dismissed him once. The PBKS captain has not smashed a six off Iyer, and Iyer’s strike rate against Pandya has not been that impressive. Therefore, it will be worthwhile to keep an eye on this conflict.
2. Josh Inglis vs Josh Hazlewood
In PBKS’ most recent outing against MI when the team was victorious, Josh Inglis, fresh from his first season for PBKS at IPL 2025, stroked a 42 ball 73 that was the game changer. He’s in the right form and will be the top pick among batters as the former world no.1 was rightfully adjudged the player of the match.
Calmness restored! 🗿🔥#PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB #IPL2025 | Josh Hazlewood pic.twitter.com/cEYul4iOlj
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) May 26, 2025Josh Hazlewood, on the other hand, is expected to rejoin the RCB XI after missing a few games. It would be intriguing to watch if the Australian bowler maintains his form or falters against the hard-hitting Inglis after missing game time and entering a high-intensity match.
Hazlewood has already faced his Australian counterpart in Twenty20 cricket and dismissed him within the four deliveries that were bowled.
3. Virat Kohli vs Arshdeep Singh
Virat Kohli will be prepared to face PBKS in the upcoming match. Kohli, who is in his 18th year with the squad, appears committed to helping them end the trophy curse. He will be the one batter to watch because of his batting form, which suggests the same thing.
Not forged by stats, but by moments that freeze time. ⏳✨
Most half-centuries in IPL. If not him, who else? 🙇♂️#PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB #IPL2025 #LSGvRCB | Virat Kohli pic.twitter.com/8GsTv2xPNI
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) May 27, 2025The former RCB captain will start the batting against PBKS’ great pacer Arshdeep Singh, who knows Kohli’s game well from playing alongside him for the national team and against him in the IPL over the years.
