After an 11-year wait, Punjab Kings finally return to the high-stakes arena of Qualifier 1 in IPL 2025, while Royal Challengers Bengaluru make their comeback to this coveted stage after a nine-year gap, having last played in Qualifier 1 in 2016. Two teams, two long journeys, and one electrifying clash await as they battle for a place in the final. Shreyas Iyer seems to have already made a reputation as a captain in T20s, while RCB think tank consists of Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and Jitesh Sharma. The return of Josh Hazlewood will bolster RCB's bowling attack as they ponder over Tim David's selection in the all-important game, owing to an injury.

Punjab, however, would be mighty pleased with Yuzvendra Chahal's likely return to the team, who can turn the game on its head against his old franchise. Chahal, who missed the last two games due to a wrist injury, played for RCB from 2014 to 2021 and was instrumental in whatever little success they got in the Indian Premier League. He had already made his presence felt in the two games he played against Bengaluru this season, having picked up 2 for 11 in 3 overs in one of the rain-curtailed games, riding on which Punjab won by 5 wickets at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Surprisingly, the pitch has something on offer for the spinners, as seen in some of the earlier matches in Mullanpur, none more than the game against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), where PBKS successfully defended 111, thanks to a brilliant spell by Chahal, who returned with figures of 4 for 28. Chahal can therefore turn out to be RCB's biggest threat in the Qualifier. He will have Arshdeep Singh for company, who seems to have got the measure of RCB opener Philip Salt in T20s. All in all, we have a real cracker of a contest in our hands, with the two best teams in the tournament fighting it out for a spot in the IPL final.

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