PBKS vs RCB Match Preview & Where to Watch Live? IPL 2025 Qualifier 1

Punjab Kings (PBKS) takes on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Qualifier 1 of IPL 2024 in Mullanpur on Thursday, May 28. The match at 7.30 PM IST. The winner of the match will advance directly to the final while the loser plays Qualifier 2.

This is the second meeting between the two sides. PBKS won a rain-affected game previously in Bengaluru. RCB, looking for their maiden IPL title need to go past an in-form PBKS side under Shreyas Iyer.

Punjab Kings defeated the Mumbai Indians to top the IPL 2025 points table. RCB, on the other hand, went past LSG's total of 227 to win the game in a dramatic fashion to finish second on the points table. The match is poised to be an entertaining one with a place in the final up for grabs.

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PBKS vs RCB IPL 2025 Qualifier 1- Match Preview

For Punjab Kings, who made a playoff appearance after a decade, Shreyas Iyer and Ricky Ponting had a terrific turnaround with the team this year. Punjab found themselves in the bottom half of the points table for a number of years in the last decade. However, this year, both Iyer and Ponting looked determined to change the fortunes of the franchise. Heading into this game, there are reports of Yuzvendra Chahal's potential comeback into the lineup. He missed the last two league games for Punjab due to an injury.

Talking about RCB, at the forefront of their turnaround has been Virat Kohli who had had yet another 600-plus season in the IPL. Also, RCB won every away game this season, becoming the first-ever team to do so in the IPL ever. The former skipper has been consistent throughout bringing his A game in big matches. It was evident in the match against LSG as well, as his half-century laid the platform for the successful run chase in the end. RCB have been boosted by Josh Hazlewood's return for the playoffs. In his absence, Nuwan Thusara played a big role in the death overs. The two teams are very evenly matched with key players in good form ahead of this mega contest in Mullanpur.

PBKS vs RCB Head To Head

The two teams have played 35 games till date in the IPL with Punjab winning 18 matches and Bengaluru 17. The two teams are pretty evenly matched heading into this contest. PBKS won the previous game between the two sides played earlier this season.

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