By Swapneel Deshpande 01 Jun 2025, 13:17 IST
Punjab Kings (PBKS) will face Mumbai Indians (MI) in Qualifier 2 of IPL 2025. The match will take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. PBKS lost Qualifier 1 at home against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Their batting collapsed badly, which cost them a direct spot in the final.
Now, Punjab must win this knockout game to reach the final. But a key concern is the fitness of their star spinner Yuzvendra Chahal. He missed the last game because of a wrist injury.
Chahal appeared in training on Saturday despite light rain in Ahmedabad. He wore a protective bandage on his wrist. The veteran spinner took catches, bowled some balls, and even joined a football session with his teammates. This showed he is recovering well.
Reports say Chahal is ready to take injections if needed to play in the match. This decision will be crucial for Punjab Kings’ captain Shreyas Iyer. Chahal is the highest wicket-taker in IPL history, with 219 wickets. He has an excellent record against some Mumbai batsmen.
Chahal has dismissed England’s Jonny Bairstow four times in six IPL games. He has also gotten the better of India’s T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav three times. Both Bairstow and Suryakumar are in good form, so Chahal’s presence could be a big advantage.
Mumbai Indians have struggled at this venue. They have lost their last five matches at Narendra Modi Stadium, including a recent defeat against Gujarat Titans by 36 runs. Their poor form here adds pressure before the big qualifier.
If Chahal plays, Mumbai’s batting troubles might increase. Punjab Kings will be eager to use every advantage to book their place in the IPL 2025 final against Royal Challengers Bangalore.
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