IPL 2025 PBKS Vs RCB Qualifier 1 Weather: Will Rain Play A Part In The Big Clash?

News18

2 days ago

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Punjab Kings face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2025's first qualifier. Mullanpur aims for a full game with no rain expected.
As Punjab Kings gear up to welcome the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their biggest match in over a decade, Mullanpur may see some clouds hovering around, although there are no chances of rain and we are in for a full game in the first qualifier game of IPL 2025.
With both franchises finishing in the top two during the league stage, an exciting contest is on the cards.
While Punjab are coming off a seven-wicket win over the Mumbai Indians, Bengaluru beat the Lucknow Super Giants by six wickets to seal a top-two spot.
Punjab find themselves in unfamiliar territory, having made the play-offs for the first time since 2014, but they aren't carrying the baggage of the past in the Shreyas Iyer -Ricky Ponting (head coach) era.
This partnership has resulted in a brilliant turnaround for Punjab, who have cracked the consistency code after more than a decade of underperformance.
The opening duo of Prabhsimran Singh and rookie Priyansh Arya has laid the platform for the likes of Iyer and Josh Inglis to build.
Finisher Shashank Singh continues to improve his game with each passing season, and more recently, Aussie import Marcus Stoinis, finding his range with the bat, makes the batting look more formidable.
Bengaluru, on the other hand, are way too familiar with the heartbreaks of the knock-out stages and, like every season, are hoping to end their title drought.
Pacer Josh Hazlewood is expected to regain full fitness, and Tim David too would be available for selection, lending more balance to the team.
The temperature is expected to be around 28 degrees Celsius this evening in Mullanpur. There will be 43% humidity, but there is no chance of rain. The weather can be partly cloudy.
In case the rain intervenes, which is a highly unlikely situation, Punjab will advance to the final since they finished on top of the points table. They are on 19 points, the same as Bengaluru, but with a better net run rate.
In that case, RCB will have to play Qualifier 2 against Gujarat Titans or Mumbai. Thankfully, there is no rain predicted during Friday's eliminator either.
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