A high-stakes knockout match is set for Sunday as Mumbai Indians (MI) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) clash to determine who will face Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the IPL 2025 final on June 3rd. RCB has already secured their spot.
This promises to be a thrilling encounter, pitting five-time champions MI against PBKS, a team still seeking its maiden IPL title. Key matchups will include Hardik Pandya vs. Shreyas Iyer, Jasprit Bumrah vs. Arshdeep Singh, Suryakumar Yadav vs. Josh Inglis, and Trent Boult vs. Kyle Jamieson.
Both teams arrive at this Qualifier 2 through contrasting journeys. MI, who were second from bottom in mid-April with only one win from five games, staged a remarkable comeback, demonstrating their signature “MI things” to reach the playoffs and eliminate Gujarat Titans (GT) on Friday. PBKS, on the other hand, had a dominant league phase, topping the points table, but suffered a significant setback in Qualifier 1 against RCB in New Chandigarh.
PBKS earned a second chance at the final by securing a top-two finish in the league stage, reinforced by their victory over MI in Jaipur earlier this week. Another win against MI on Sunday would guarantee the IPL a first-time champion.
Ricky Ponting and Shreyas Iyer have successfully transformed PBKS into an explosive batting unit, despite featuring an unusual four uncapped Indian batters in their top seven. This aggressive approach has seen them score over 200 runs in seven of their 15 innings. While this strategy faltered on a seam-friendly, variable-bounce pitch in New Chandigarh, it is expected to thrive on the truer surfaces in Ahmedabad.
Conversely, MI’s batting lineup is anchored by experienced international players, with only one uncapped player in their top seven. Jonny Bairstow seamlessly stepped into the opening role after Ryan Rickelton’s departure, providing a strong foundation for a 200-plus total on Friday. Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya have been consistent big-hitters in the middle order, but Jasprit Bumrah remains their critical differentiator, often turning 20-over innings into 16 with his impactful bowling.
In the Eliminator, MI overcame the absence of Deepak Chahar (hamstring niggle) and the hindrance of dew, largely thanks to Bumrah’s exceptional yorkers. The key question for Sunday’s match will be whether PBKS can devise a strategy to counter his formidable threat.
