As the IPL 2025 Qualifier 2 between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Mumbai Indians (MI) approaches on Sunday at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium, former India pacer Varun Aaron believes PBKS might enjoy a slight advantage due to the nature of the pitch favouring their top-order batters.
Speaking on ESPNcricinfo’s Time Out show, Aaron explained, “The Ahmedabad surface is going to suit Punjab. It’ll suit both teams, but Punjab more as such, because they rely heavily on both the openers.”
He further added that PBKS’s qualification in the top two provided them with the benefit of playing just one game so far, giving their young Indian players valuable exposure to high-pressure knockout cricket.
Aaron continued, “Their young Indian contingent has seen what a high-pressure knockout game is about, what they have to do and what they don’t have to do. I’m sure Ricky Ponting has been involved, and now they can reset and go into this game. Like Shreyas Iyer said after Qualifier 1, they lost a battle but haven’t lost the war yet.”
Tom Moody Urges PBKS To Refocus After Heavy Defeat
Meanwhile, former Sunrisers Hyderabad head coach Tom Moody urged PBKS to quickly move past their heavy loss in Qualifier 1, when Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) bowled them out for just 101 in New Chandigarh.
Moody emphasised that the Mumbai Indians are ‘definitely favourites’, but Punjab remains a formidable opponent, consistently punching above their weight this season.
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“Punjab have had a little bit of time to park that disappointment and needs to refocus on what has made them good this year,” Moody remarked. “A lot of their uncapped players have performed exceptionally well, so it’s about continuing to surround them with confidence and faith. On a good batting surface, they will be competitive.”
Additionally, he also acknowledged Mumbai’s momentum after their emphatic 228 for 5 victory over Gujarat Titans (GT) in the other qualifier, stating, “Mumbai are coming in red-hot after a good performance. They’ve washed away the negatives from earlier in the tournament and are very strong at the business end.”
Importance Of Batting First In Knockout Pressure
Both experts agreed that setting a target would be crucial in this knockout clash, especially for Punjab’s relatively inexperienced batting line-up.
Aaron emphasised, “Punjab would love to set the tone. In a knockout game like this, it’s always better to bat first. They have a good but inexperienced batting unit, and pressure can really get to you. It’s better to set the target, take some pressure off the batsmen, and let your bowlers do the rest.”
As the two teams prepare for their do-or-die encounter, the stage is set for a thrilling contest influenced heavily by pitch conditions, tactical decisions, and team morale.
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