Shreyas Iyer’s composed and tactical leadership will be under the spotlight when Punjab Kings take on a buoyant Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Qualifier 1 of IPL 2025 on Thursday in Mullanpur. With both teams in top form, this high-stakes encounter promises to be a thriller, as Punjab look to convert momentum into a historic maiden title.

Punjab Kings head into the playoffs brimming with confidence after a commanding win over Mumbai Indians in Jaipur, which catapulted them to the top of the table. With nine wins and 19 points, PBKS finished as league leaders, thus earning two opportunities to reach the final.

From Day 1 to the playoffs, the Kings never stopped roaring! ??

⬅️ Swipe to relive our journey! pic.twitter.com/m2JzQSXK2H

— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) May 29, 2025

This season marks a major turning point for Punjab, who have broken free from years of inconsistency and underachievement. Making the playoffs for the first time since 2014, PBKS find themselves in unfamiliar territory, but they aren’t burdened by past failures. Instead, they’ve forged a new identity under the Shreyas Iyer–Ricky Ponting era, one built on tactical clarity, role definition, and collective belief.