Cricket enthusiasts can breathe a sigh of relief as clear weather is predicted for tonight’s highly anticipated IPL 2025 Qualifier 1 clash between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Mullanpur. With both teams vying for their maiden IPL title, the forecast of no rain promises an uninterrupted spectacle.
According to Accuweather, temperatures are expected to hover around 32 degrees Celsius, providing ideal conditions for a thrilling encounter. This comes as welcome news, especially considering the stakes: in the event of a rain interruption, PBKS, having finished atop the league stage with a superior Net Run-Rate, would automatically progress to the final. Both PBKS and RCB concluded the league stage with 19 points from 14 matches, showcasing their consistent performance throughout the season.
The match, set to be played at the Mullanpur venue, will see both sides grappling with the absence of key players due to national duties. RCB will be without Lungi Ngidi and Jacob Bethell, with Blessing Muzarabani and Tim Seifert stepping in for the playoffs. PBKS will miss Marco Jansen, who has joined the South African squad for the upcoming World Test Championship final.
The Mullanpur pitch itself has presented a mixed bag of performances this season, with an average score of 173. Teams batting first have seen success in three out of four matches. The venue has witnessed both high-scoring affairs, including multiple 200-plus totals, and low-scoring contests where teams were dismissed for under 100 runs. In their most recent encounter at this venue, RCB emerged victorious, successfully chasing down a target of 157 runs set by PBKS.
All eyes will be on Mullanpur tonight as PBKS and RCB battle it out under clear skies, aiming to secure their spot in the IPL 2025 final.