Punjab brace for tough test against rampant Mumbai

A rampant Mumbai Indians will present a stern test of character for a rattled Punjab Kings in a virtual semi-final when the two teams face off in Qualifier 2 of the Indian Premier League in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

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Punjab Kings, led by Shreyas Iyer, suffered a demoralising eight-wicket loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Qualifier I.

With the pressure mounting in this must-wingame, the Kings must bounce back quickly if they are to realise their dream of lifting a maiden IPL trophy.

Mumbai Indians, in contrast, are riding high after eliminating tournament favourites Gujarat Titans in the Eliminator.

The five-time champions, guided by Hardik Pandya, look poised for another shot at glory, drawing on their vast experience in IPL knockouts.

History favours Mumbai in these crunch situations. Their clinical dismantling of GT showcased a team peaking at the right time, with key players stepping up across departments.

Head coach Mahela Jayawardene has successfully turned around a squad that finished at the bottom of the table last season, instilling discipline and cohesion.

Punjab's immediate task will be to regroup, particularly in the bowling department. With Arshdeep Singh shouldering much of the burden, the absence of Marco Jansen and Yuzvendra Chahal has left their attack looking threadbare. Their inability to build pressure on a lively Mullanpur wicket against RCB was evident.