- June 1, 2025
IPL 2025 is at the highest drama, and with Qualifier 2 coming up, it’s Mumbai Indians vs Punjab Kings. The former feels like a veritable juggernaut against the latter’s underdog charm. We’ve seen Punjab be wiped off the park by RCB, while MI have rolled through Gujarat Titans as expected. However, as Tom Moody would say, “You never write off this PBKS side.” Lahore has a spark left in this young group, if only the blue betting odds and experts could be put aside. So, why this knockout in Ahmedabad is going to be a must-watch spark. Let’s go.
Punjab’s Young Guns: Down but Not Out
One loss to RCB does not erase the pleasures of the sweat from a season. The Punjab Kings are not solely captured in the glam names, they were spectacularly successful in the development and emergence of a few uncapped players that overachieved. Priyansh Arya, Harpreet Brar, and a few other non-household names that were not on the lips of Indian Cricket fans a few months ago have now made their way into the squad. Certainly, the defeats from RCB were painful, but they also gave the youth a taste of high-stakes cricket, which can only prepare them for the next knockout match, if that ever occurs.
We also have the Ahmedabad pitch—a flat, batter-friendly pitch. Punjab will feel more comfortable in Ahmedabad than they did on the swinging surfaces in Chandigarh. With an explosive top order that loves these types of decks, they may lack experience, but they have confidence. With Ricky Ponting in the dressing room, at least there will be plenty of hard conversations and hard resets for the players to experience.
Another important aspect of their preference is to set a total rather than chase. Less experienced batting units tend to wilt under scoreboard pressure… so batting first to get the hitters free and to let the bowlers defend could be the best recipe.
MI in Knockout Mode: Right Place, Right Time
The Mumbai Indians didn’t start the season so hot, and then they flat-out destroyed GT in the eliminator; MI is owning the art of peaking at the right time. Jasprit Bumrah has been exceptional and gives MI an easy column of overs. Surya’s inning in the last game was a contrast (mix) of swag and skill, vintage Surya. Charith Asalanka also provides a safety net; MI did not need too much from their lower middle order, but it exists.
There are concerns, too. Gleeson looked like playing well but did not complete his spell, which makes me nervous on the fitness watch alert. Deepak Chahar out, has put holes in a bowling unit, and expecting Bumrah to complete it all forever does not make sense. Maybe Karan Sharma will be able to come in to provide some support in that spin department, especially as Ahmedabad lets the spin come into effect again as the game goes on, customarily.
Matchups, Toss, and the What-If Factor
Qualifier 2 is also a matter of match-ups and small moments that become huge. One match-up? Trent Boult vs Priyansh Arya. Arya looked unfazed against MI in the last match, but Boult moving it away from a left-hander has the ability to produce carnage early. Another match-up: Gleeson vs Shreyas Iyer. If Iyer gets going, Punjab could score at will. If Gleeson can hit that annoying back-of-a-length consistently, it could be over early.
And then there’s the toss. Dew hasn’t been much of a factor this season, but conventionally, Ahmedabad usually gets dew. As with everything else, both teams would have preferred to bat first, but when dew does arrive, it will bring a dimension of difficulty for both spinners and captains.
Which side do you favour–the pedigree of Mumbai or the passion of Punjab? One thing is for sure–Sunday is more than a cricket match, it is a narrative.”
For more, visit JeetBuzz News to read our quality Cricket Blog updates. Explore if you want to reminisce and enjoy all of your favourite cricket players and nostalgic match moments. To ensure that you never miss out, keep updated and join in the fun!
