The second Qualifier of IPL 2025 between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Mumbai Indians (MI) has been delayed due to heavy rain at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Just as players began walking onto the field, rain began pouring, forcing everyone back to the pavilion. The pitch and the outfield were quickly covered.
Toss and Strategy
Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and chose to bowl first. He cited overcast skies and the pitch being under covers before the match as key reasons for his decision. Conditions could help fast bowlers early on.
Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya also wanted to bowl. He acknowledged the pitch had changed since his time with Gujarat Titans in 2022. Despite the flattening surface, both captains expected some early movement.
PBKS made one change, bringing in leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal in place of Harpreet Brar. Chahal’s return could be crucial in the middle overs. Mumbai replaced Richard Gleeson with left-arm pacer Reece Topley to add variety to their pace attack.
What Happens If the Match Is Washed Out?
There is no reserve day for Qualifier 2. If the match gets washed out completely, Punjab Kings will qualify for the final. This is because they finished higher on the points table — first, with 19 points. MI ended fourth with 14.
So far this season, Ahmedabad has hosted seven IPL matches. Six of those were won by teams batting first. All saw high-scoring totals above 195. However, with rain around, batting first could be tricky, hence Iyer’s decision to chase.
Confirmed Playing XIs
Mumbai Indians:
Rohit Sharma, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Naman Dhir, Hardik Pandya (capt), Raj Bawa, Mitchell Santner, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah, Reece Topley
Impact Players: Ashwani Kumar, KL Shrijith, Raghu Sharma, Robin Minz, Bevon Jacobs
Punjab Kings:
Priyansh Arya, Josh Inglis (wk), Shreyas Iyer (capt), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Azmatullah Omarzai, Vyshak Vijaykumar, Kyle Jamieson, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh
Impact Players: Prabhsimran Singh, Xavier Bartlett, Harpreet Brar, Suryansh Shedge, Pravin Dubey
Player Watch
Priyansh Arya has been a breakout star for Punjab Kings. In the IPL 2025 season, he has scored over 1,000 runs in T20s with an average above 30. His quickfire century against CSK earlier in the season was one of the highlights of the tournament.
On the other side, MI will bank on Jasprit Bumrah’s pace and precision. Bumrah ended last season with 20 wickets and a best of 5/21. His early spell could set the tone, especially with overcast skies.
Outlook and Fan Expectations
Both teams are desperate to reach the IPL 2025 final. Punjab Kings are hoping to overcome their Qualifier 1 loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, where they were bowled out for just 101. The team says they are now “recovered and rejuvenated.”
Fans are hoping the rain clears up soon. A shortened match or a no-result would be anti-climactic for a fixture of this importance. With no reserve day, the weather could decide who faces RCB in the final.
