The final two league matches of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season delivered a couple of exhilarating matches. Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) secured top-two finishes, setting up a Qualifier 1 clash between the two sides.
Match 69: Punjab Kings vs Mumbai Indians – May 26, 2025
At the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, PBKS delivered a clinical performance to defeat Mumbai Indians (MI) by seven wickets. Chasing a target of 185, PBKS reached 187/3 in 18.3 overs. Josh Inglis led the charge with a 73-run knock off 42 balls, while Priyansh Arya contributed 62 runs off 35 deliveries. Their 109-run partnership for the second wicket laid the foundation for the successful chase.
Earlier, MI posted 184/7 in their 20 overs, with Suryakumar Yadav scoring 58 runs. Despite the competitive total, MI’s bowlers struggled to contain the PBKS batting lineup.
With this victory, PBKS secured a top-two finish for the first time in 11 years, earning a spot in Qualifier 1. Coach Ricky Ponting praised the team’s unity and focus. He emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum as they head into the playoffs.
Match 70: Lucknow Super Giants vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru – May 27, 2025
In a high-scoring encounter at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, RCB chased down a formidable target of 228 to defeat Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by six wickets.
LSG, batting first, posted 227/3, with captain Rishabh Pant scoring an unbeaten 118 off 61 balls. Opener Mitchell Marsh also played a solid knock of 67 off 37 deliveries and was also involved in a 152-run stand with Pant. RCB’s response was led by stand-in skipper Jitesh Sharma, who played a blistering innings of 85 not out off 33 balls. His performance guided RCB to their highest successful run chase in IPL history, reaching 230/4 in 18.4 overs.
Jitesh’s innings overshadowed notable efforts from teammate Virat Kohli. He scored 54 runs and highlighted RCB’s batting depth. There were a few hiccups as RCB lost the wickets of Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and Liam Livingstone in quick succession. Still, they were unstoppable once Mayank Agarwal (41*) and Jitesh Sharma joined hands at the crease. The victory also ensured RCB’s place in Qualifier 1 against PBKS.
Upcoming Fixtures
- Qualifier 1: Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru
- Eliminator: Mumbai Indians vs Gujarat Titans
The winners of Qualifier 1 will advance directly to the final. The losers will get another opportunity to face the winner of the Eliminator match.
As the playoffs approach, both PBKS and RCB will look to carry forward their winning momentum, while MI and GT aim to stay alive in the competition through the Eliminator.
