IPL 2025: Mumbai Indians Face Punjab Kings in Qualifier 2

MI enter the game with strong momentum after an eight-wicket win over Gujarat Titans, while PBKS are reeling from a heavy loss to RCB

- STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 31 MAY

A place in the IPL 2025 final is on the line as Mumbai Indians, one of the most decorated franchises, square off against an under-pressure Punjab Kings in Qualifier 2 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

Buoyed by an eight-wicket triumph over the Gujarat Titans in the Eliminator on Friday, five-time title holders Mumbai Indians appear to have hit top gear at the right time. In contrast, the Shreyas Iyer-led Punjab Kings enter this virtual semifinal nursing the bruises of an identical eight-wicket crushing at the hands of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Qualifier 1, a result that exposed frailties in both their batting and bowling departments.

For Punjab, Sunday's do-or-die clash is about survival and resurgence. Chasing their maiden IPL trophy, the Ricky Ponting-coached side will need to quickly overcome the scars of their previous loss and bring their best to the field against a side that's no stranger to the pressure of knockout matches. Mumbai's pedigree in knockout games, having won the title five times, and with the same core of players, gives them a distinct edge while Punjab will have to navigate their own way to have the last laugh.