Mumbai Indians (MI) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) set to clash in Qualifier 2 of IPL 2025 on June 1 at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad with winner earning a spot against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the final on June 3. This high-stakes encounter follows PBKS’s eight-wicket loss to RCB in Qualifier 1 and MI’s commanding victory over Gujarat Titans in the Eliminator.
After a disappointing performance against RCB, where they were bowled out for 101 in 14.1 overs, PBKS, led by Shreyas Iyer, aim to regroup. Their probable lineup includes explosive openers Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh, followed by Josh Inglis, Iyer, Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis, and Shashank Singh.
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The bowling attack will likely feature Azmatullah Omarzai, Harpreet Brar, Kyle Jamieson, Arshdeep Singh, and impact player Vyshak Vijaykumar. Despite their earlier league-stage win over MI by seven wickets. PBKS’s bowling struggled without key players like Yuzvendra Chahal and Marco Jansen, putting pressure on Arshdeep Singh to deliver.
MI, under Hardik Pandya’s leadership, have regained form after a slow start, winning seven of their last eight matches. Their probable XI includes Jonny Bairstow, Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Pandya, Naman Dhir, Raj Bawa, Mitchell Santner, Richard Gleeson, Trent Boult, and Jasprit Bumrah, with Ashwani Kumar as a potential impact player. MI’s strength lies in their experienced batting lineup and Bumrah’s match-turning bowling, which proved decisive against Gujarat Titans.
Read more: RCB Roars into IPL 2025 Final with Historic Win Over Punjab Kings
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PBKS dominated MI in their league-stage encounter on May 26, 2025, chasing 185 with ease, thanks to Josh Inglis (73) and Priyansh Arya (62). However, MI’s playoff experience and balanced squad, led by Bumrah’s lethal bowling, give them an edge. The battle between PBKS’s aggressive openers and MI’s pace attack. Featuring Bumrah and Boult, will be crucial on Ahmedabad’s batting-friendly pitch.
Posts on X reflect intense anticipation, with fans buzzing about MI’s knockout pedigree and PBKS’s resilience under Iyer. This do-or-die match promises fireworks, as both teams vie for a chance to face RCB in the IPL 2025 final.