Punjab Kings (PBKS) have finished the group stage at the top. It’s no coincidence. It isn’t luck that has led them to where they are. Punjab will face Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Qualifier 1 on May 29, for a place in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 Final. And they’ll enter the match as favourites. That’s because, pound for pound, PBKS are just better than RCB.
Kohli-Salt outmatched?
If we look at just opener, RCB’s Virat Kohli and Phil Salt might sneak ahead. But if we factor number and make it a top-order battle, PBKS are no less and if fact, might be slightly ahead. That’s because captain Shreyas Iyer bats at number three in majority of matches.
Combine that with destructiveness of Priyansh Arya and consistency of Prabhsimran Singh, you can see how PBKS can match Kohli and Salt’s opening partnership. As for RCB’s number three, they have Mayank Agarwal. He played well against Lucknow Super Giants but of all the six players mentioned, he’s the weakest.
RCB’s injury & middle-order woes
Barring Patidar, RCB don’t have a middle-order. And not only is Patidar injured, didn’t play the last game, he’s also woefully out of form. The RCB captain’s last 25+ score was on April 7. Jitesh Sharma may have played an innings of a lifetime, but he’s a finisher. And so are Tim David and Romario Shepherd. And speaking of David, we don’t know if he’s fit either.
Meanwhile, PBKS have Josh Inglis and Nehal Wadhera in the middle-order, both of whom are in career best IPL form. And to match RCB’s finishers, PBKS have Marcus Stoinis, who scored 44 from 16 and Delhi Capitals and Shashank Singh, who’s one of the most proven finishers in the league.
Krunal-Suyash, better than Chahal-Brar
Yuzvendra Chahal hasn’t done well for PBKS, and he might be injured as well, but he’s got 9 more wickets than Suyash Sharma. Yes, RCB’s leggie has been more economical, but he isn’t getting them wickets. Krunal Pandya is a better pick than Harpreet Brar, because of his batting. So, RCB might be ahead here.
Jansen missing, Hazlewood’s fitness
It’s been Josh Hazlewood or nothing for RCB. Since the start of May, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has taken 2 wickets at 72 in the last 3 matches. Yash Dayal is even worse, 1 wicket at 121 in 3 matches. The issue is that Hazlewood hasn’t played since April 27, and we don’t know how well he’s recovered. Lungi Ngidi has returned as well.
As for PBKS, Arshdeep Singh hasn’t been at his best in the last three games but he’s still among top five wicket-takers. Marco Jansen had been exceptional but he’s back. Kyle Jamieson, Azmatullah Omarzai and Xavier Bartlett are the option, but none of them as good as Jansen. Vijaykumar Vyshak has played the third pacer’s role well and that itsn’t a worry.
All in all, PBKS seem to be behind only in the spin department and that too not by much. The pacer bowling unit might be on-par given form and Hazlewood’s fitness. But when it comes to batting, PBKS are ahead of RCB.
Why Punjab Kings are favourites to reach IPL 2025 Final over RCB Inside Sport India.
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