PBKS vs RCB, IPL 2025 Qualifier 1 Date, Time: Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru will lock horns in the first Qualifier of IPL 2025 on May 29 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur. Both teams head into the clash with strong momentum and identical win records from the league stage.
Punjab Kings finished the regular season as table-toppers with nine wins in 14 matches. Royal Challengers Bengaluru also recorded nine victories but settled for second place due to a slightly lower net run rate.
In their final league outings, both teams registered emphatic wins. PBKS defeated Mumbai Indians by 7 wickets, thanks to a match-winning 73-run knock by wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis. RCB, meanwhile, chased down their highest-ever IPL target against Lucknow Super Giants, with Jitesh Sharma hammering a crucial 85 to seal a 6-wicket win.
Historically, the head-to-head record slightly favours Bengaluru, who have won 18 of their 35 encounters. Punjab Kings are close behind with 17 wins and will look to even the score in this high-stakes playoff.
PBKS vs RCB Predicted Playing XI
Punjab Kings: Priyansh Arya, Josh Inglis (wk), Shreyas Iyer (c), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Azmatullah Omarzai, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kyle Jamieson, Vyshak Vijaykumar, Arshdeep Singh, Prabhsimran Singh
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Mayank Agarwal, Tim David, Jitesh Sharma (c & wk), Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Suyash Sharma, Yash Dayal, Nuwan Thushara, Rajat Patidar
PBKS vs RCB Full squads
Punjab Kings: Nehal Wadhera, Harnoor Singh, Shreyas Iyer, Musheer Khan, Pyla Avinash, Prabhsimran Singh, Vishnu Vinod, Josh Inglis, Marcus Stoinis, Praveen Dubey, Priyansh Arya, Azmatullah Omarzai, Aaron Hardie, Harpreet Brar, Suryansh Shedge, Shashank Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Xavier Bartlett, Kuldeep Sen, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Yash Thakur, Mitchell Owen, Kyle Jamieson.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar (c), Swastik Chikara, Jitesh Sharma, Philip Salt, Manoj Bhandage, Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Liam Livingstone, Romario Shepherd, Jacob Bethell, Swapnil Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Nuwan Thushara, Yash Dayal, Rasikh Dar Salam, Suyash Sharma, Mohit Rathee, Abhinandan Singh, Mayank Agarawal, Blessing Muzarabani, Tim Seifert.
With both sides boasting explosive lineups and recent form to back them, Thursday’s Qualifier promises a thrilling contest and a direct ticket to the IPL 2025 final.