After a whopping 70 matches, the 2025 IPL regular season has come to an end, and the top four is cemented. The Punjab Kings will host the Royal Challengers Bangalore in Qualifier 1 on Thursday night (12am AEST) and it should be an absolute cracker!
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Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bangalore Prediction & Tips: 2025 IPL Qualifier 1
King Without a Crown
Virat Kohli recently called time on his Test and T20I career. He is without question, one of the most decorated cricketers of all time. However, the glaring absence in his trophy case is an IPL title. He has a golden opportunity this year as the Royal Challengers Bangalore will square off in their first Qualifier Final since all the way back in the 2011 IPL season. Kohli has been the standout RCB batsman once again this season, plundering 602 runs at a league high 60.2.
No More Nearly Men
One of the inaugural eight teams in the IPL (formerly known as Kings XI Punjab), the Kings have had a serious lack of success over the course of their franchise history. They have qualified for the finals just twice since the IPL started back in 2008, and they are still chasing their first title. Led by captain Shreyas Iyer, they finished atop the table this season with a 9-4 record and a dominant net run rate.
RCB Rock Solid at Selection Table
The Royal Challengers made the interesting call to rest key paceman Josh Hazlewood in the final match of the regular season. South African Lungi Ngidi came into the side and didn’t do enough to hold his spot. Apart from that, the RCB side has looked largely the same throughout the back half of the season, so we shouldn’t see too many interesting calls from them as we head into the Q1.
RCB Predicted XII (Sub Included): Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Mayank Agarwal, Rajit Patidar, Jitesh Sharma, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Tim David, Bhuveneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Suyash Sharma, Josh Hazlewood
Form or Firepower? Punjab Face Bigger Selection Calls
While the Punjab Kings batting unit has been absolutely dominant this season and remained largely the same throughout, they have had a mix of pace bowling options play a big part throughout the back half of the season. Marco Jansen looks locked in to play, as does Arshdeep Singh. Kyle Jamieson, Xavier Bartlett, Lockie Ferguson and Azmatullah Omarzai have all played roles with the ball and will likely be fighting for one spot.
PBKS Predicted XII (Sub Included): Priyash Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Josh Inglis, Shreyas Iyer, Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Harpreet Brar, Kyle Jamieson, Arshdeep Singh, Vijaykumar Vyshak
Our IPL Qualifier 1 Tip
The two teams met twice this season in back to back games back on the 18th and 20th of April. They split those two clashes, with the travelling team taking honours in both games. It bodes well for my selection here, as I love the look of RCB to win this one on the road.
We know that Virat Kohli goes to the next level in big games, as does Aussie paceman Josh Hazlewood, who has been outstanding this season with 18 wickets at one of the best averages in the league (17.27). I think they are the best two players in this game and if both fire, RCB should win.
Royal Challengers Bangalore to win
$1.90 (1 Unit)
