IPL 2025 Qualifier 2 73rd Match Pre-Match Analysis: Mumbai Indians vs Punjab Kings
The IPL 2025 Qualifier 2 73rd Match, Ahmedabad, Indian Premier League is set to be an electrifying showdown as Mumbai Indians vs Punjab Kings battle for a spot in the IPL 2025 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, on June 1, 2025, at 7:30 PM IST. This IPL 2025 Pre-Match Analysis dives deep into team form, player performances, venue dynamics, and predictions for the winner, Player of the Match, and the most dismissable bowler. With Mumbai Indians’ resurgence and Punjab Kings’ explosive batting, this clash promises high-octane cricket.
Match Overview: Mumbai Indians vs Punjab Kings
- Team vs Team: Mumbai Indians vs Punjab Kings
- Stadium Name and Place: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
- Date & Time: June 1, 2025, 7:30 PM IST
- Match Context: The IPL 2025 Qualifier 2 73rd Match, Ahmedabad, Indian Premier League determines who faces Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the final on June 3. Mumbai Indians, after a shaky start with one win in five games, stormed into the playoffs with a 20-run victory over Gujarat Titans in the Eliminator, powered by Jasprit Bumrah and Rohit Sharma. Punjab Kings, despite topping the league phase, were bowled out for 101 in Qualifier 1 against RCB, making this a do-or-die clash for their first IPL title. Their earlier meeting on May 26 saw PBKS chase 185 with ease, led by Josh Inglis and Priyansh Arya.
IPL 2025 Current Team Rankings, Points Table, NRR, and Playoff Context
Based on performances up to May 31, 2025:
- Punjab Kings: Topped the league phase with 14-16 points from 14 matches, boasting a +0.372 NRR. Their seven-wicket win over MI in Jaipur and a 122-run opening stand against DC (abandoned) highlight their batting prowess, but the Qualifier 1 collapse (101 all out) exposed vulnerabilities on seaming tracks. PBKS need to rebound to secure their first IPL final appearance.
- Mumbai Indians: Likely 3rd-4th with 12-14 points, with a stellar +1.142 NRR, thanks to their 228/5 in the Eliminator against GT. MI’s turnaround from a bottom-two position in mid-April to knocking out GT showcases their playoff pedigree. A win here secures their seventh IPL final appearance.
- Playoff Context: The winner advances to face RCB in the final. PBKS’s batting depth and MI’s bowling strength make this a close call, with MI’s momentum giving them a slight edge.
Squad Information
Mumbai Indians Squad
- Key Players: Hardik Pandya (c), Rohit Sharma, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult, Richard Gleeson/Reece Topley, Raj Bawa.
- Probable XI: Rohit Sharma, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (c), Naman Dhir, Raj Bawa, Mitchell Santner, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah, Richard Gleeson/Reece Topley.
- Impact Subs: Ashwani Kumar, Krishnan Shrijith, Raghu Sharma, Robin Minz.
Punjab Kings Squad
- Key Players: Shreyas Iyer (c), Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya, Josh Inglis (wk), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Kyle Jamieson, Harpreet Brar.
- Probable XI: Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya, Shreyas Iyer (c), Josh Inglis (wk), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Harpreet Brar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Kyle Jamieson.
- Impact Subs: Vijaykumar Vyshak, Praveen Dubey, Suryansh Shedge, Musheer Khan.
Note: Yuzvendra Chahal is likely to return after missing games due to a wrist injury, while Richard Gleeson’s hamstring issue may see Reece Topley step in for MI.
Player Performance Analysis
Mumbai Indians Key Players
- Rohit Sharma Performance: Rohit’s 81 off 50 in the Eliminator, including 27 runs off sweeps against spin, was pivotal. His 4th fifty-plus score in IPL 2025 (first since 2016) underlines his form. He averages 40+ at Ahmedabad, making him a key batsman.
- Suryakumar Yadav Performance: Suryakumar’s 57 off 39 against PBKS and 33 in the Eliminator (14th consecutive 25+ T20 score) showcase his consistency. His 117 runs off 77 balls against Rashid Khan without dismissal make him a threat.
- Jasprit Bumrah Performance: Leading the Purple Cap race with 20 wickets (6.48 economy), Bumrah’s 3 wickets against GT, including a pinpoint yorker to Washington Sundar, highlight his dominance. His 3 dismissals of Stoinis in 36 balls make him PBKS’s nemesis.
- Jonny Bairstow Performance: Bairstow’s 47 off 22 on MI debut against GT set the tone for 228/5. His powerplay aggression (26 runs off Prasidh’s over) suits Ahmedabad’s true pitches, though Chahal has dismissed him 4 times in 6 IPL innings.
Punjab Kings Key Players
- Priyansh Arya Performance: Arya’s 62 off 40 in the 109-run stand with Inglis against MI and a 70 off 37 against DC (abandoned) underline his explosive form. Despite recent single-digit scores, his 400+ runs in IPL 2025 make him a top-order threat.
- Josh Inglis Performance: Inglis’s 73 off 45 in the MI chase and 50+ in the DC game showcase his finishing ability. His one-bounce four off Bumrah’s yorker highlights his composure under pressure.
- Yuzvendra Chahal Performance: Chahal, if fit, is PBKS’s trump card with 15 wickets (7.2 economy). His 4 dismissals of Bairstow (29 off 35 balls) and 3 of Suryakumar (83 off 71) make him a matchup winner on Ahmedabad’s red-soil pitch.
- Arshdeep Singh Performance: Arshdeep’s 2-28 against MI, including nailing yorkers in the final over, and 12 wickets overall show his growth. His powerplay dismissals of Salt and Kohli against RCB bode well for tackling MI’s openers.
Venue Analysis: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
- Ground Information: Narendra Modi Stadium features red-soil pitches with even bounce, favoring batsmen. The average first-innings score in IPL 2025 is 190-210, with boundaries of 65-70m square and 75m straight. Six of seven games this season were won by teams batting first, but dew aids chasing teams under lights.
- First Batting vs Second Batting: The first batting team has an advantage, as 6 of 7 matches were won by teams setting totals. Dew can assist chases, as seen in DC’s chase of 206 against PBKS, but defending 200+ is feasible with disciplined bowling, as MI did (228/5 vs GT).
- Duke Impression: The Dukes ball offers early swing in Ahmedabad’s evening conditions, benefiting pacers like Bumrah and Arshdeep. However, the ball flattens out quickly, reducing reverse swing. Spinners like Chahal and Santner get grip in the middle overs, making them crucial.
Key Battles to Watch
- Jonny Bairstow vs Yuzvendra Chahal: Bairstow’s 47 off 22 against GT meets Chahal’s dominance (4 dismissals in 6 IPL innings, 29 runs off 35 balls). Chahal’s wrist-spin could curb Bairstow’s powerplay aggression.
- Suryakumar Yadav vs Arshdeep Singh: Suryakumar’s 57 against PBKS faces Arshdeep’s death-over yorkers. Arshdeep’s 3-run final over against MI shows his clutch ability, but Suryakumar’s 117 off 77 against Rashid suggests he can dominate pace too.
- Priyansh Arya vs Jasprit Bumrah: Arya’s 62 off 40 against MI meets Bumrah’s 20 wickets. Bumrah’s 3 dismissals of Stoinis in 36 balls indicate he could exploit Arya’s occasional recklessness.
Predictions
- Cricket Winner: Mumbai Indians are slight favorites to win the IPL 2025 Qualifier 2 73rd Match, Ahmedabad, Indian Premier League, given their Eliminator performance (228/5 vs GT) and Bumrah’s form (20 wickets). Their +1.142 NRR and depth in batting and bowling outweigh PBKS’s Qualifier 1 collapse. However, PBKS’s 7-wicket win over MI earlier and Arya-Inglis’s form make them dangerous, especially if Chahal plays.
- Player of the Match: Jasprit Bumrah is a top contender, likely to take 2-3 wickets with his yorkers, as seen in the Eliminator. His 20 wickets and 6.48 economy make him MI’s X-factor. Alternatively, Josh Inglis could claim it with a 60-80 run knock if PBKS chase successfully, as seen in his 73 against MI.
- Most Dismissable Bowler: Jasprit Bumrah is expected to be the most dismissable bowler, with 20 wickets and a knack for clutch performances. His 3 wickets against GT and dominance over Stoinis (28 runs, 3 wickets) make him likely to dismiss key PBKS batsmen like Arya or Inglis.
Strategic Insights
- Mumbai Indians: MI should leverage Bairstow and Rohit to dominate the powerplay, targeting 70+ runs to set or chase 200+. Bumrah and Boult must strike early to disrupt PBKS’s top order. Using Ashwani Kumar as an Impact Sub for extra bowling, as in the Eliminator, could be key. MI need to tighten fielding after GT dropped Rohit twice.
- Punjab Kings: PBKS must rely on Arya and Inglis to set a blazing start, as seen in their 109-run stand against MI. Chahal, if fit, and Arshdeep should target MI’s middle order on Ahmedabad’s grippy pitch. Using Musheer Khan as an Impact Sub for batting depth could counter MI’s bowlers. PBKS need to avoid another collapse like Qualifier 1 (101 all out).
Conclusion
The IPL 2025 Qualifier 2 73rd Match, Ahmedabad, Indian Premier League between Mumbai Indians vs Punjab Kings at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, on June 1, 2025, at 7:30 PM IST, is a high-stakes battle for the IPL final. MI’s momentum and Jasprit Bumrah’s performance give them a slight edge, but PBKS’s batting firepower and Yuzvendra Chahal’s performance (if fit) keep them in contention. The first batting team benefits from Ahmedabad’s true pitches, though dew could aid chases.
