Five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) are not just eager for revenge but also determined to secure a spot in the final as they face Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Qualifier 2 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. The winner will advance to play Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the final at the same venue on Tuesday.
Last Monday, PBKS climbed to the top of the standings with a commanding 7-wicket win over MI at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. Punjab chased down the target of 185 runs with nine balls to spare, earning a place in Qualifier 1 and two opportunities to reach the final. MI, finishing fourth, had to take the longer route by playing the Eliminator. After PBKS lost Qualifier 1 to RCB on Thursday, MI bounced back by defeating Gujarat Titans (GT) in the Eliminator on Friday, setting the stage for this crucial showdown.
Mumbai Indians bring more IPL knockout experience than the other two teams left, which could give Hardik Pandya’s side an edge. Suryakumar Yadav has been a standout performer for MI, scoring 673 runs in 15 matches and ranking second in the Orange Cap race this season.
Punjab Kings, led by Shreyas Iyer, will be keen to move past their recent heavy defeat against RCB and rekindle the intensity that has waned, especially in their bowling unit where Arshdeep Singh faces added pressure. PBKS will also be cautious not to repeat mistakes like those made by GT, particularly lapses in fielding that Rohit Sharma capitalized on to great effect.
Pitch Report – Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
The pitch is expected to favor the batsmen. Of the 14 matches played here this season, nine innings have seen totals exceed 200 runs. A high-scoring Qualifier 2 looks likely. Teams winning the toss are expected to bowl first due to dew playing a factor in the second innings.
Weather Report – Ahmedabad
According to AccuWeather, temperatures will start around 35°C and drop to about 31°C by the end of the match. Humidity will hover between 48% and 56%, skies will remain clear, and there is almost no chance of rain during the game.
PBKS vs MI IPL Qualifier 2: Head-to-Head
The two teams have faced off 33 times before, with MI winning 17 matches and PBKS 16.
PBKS vs MI: Probable Playing XI
Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma, Jonny Bairstow, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (c), Naman Dhir, Raj Bawa, Mitchell Santner, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah, Richard Gleeson, Ashwani Kumar
Punjab Kings: Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya, Shreyas Iyer (c), Josh Inglis, Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Azmatullah Omarzai, Harpreet Brar, Arshdeep Singh, Kyle Jamieson, Vijaykumar Vyshak