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"Hard To Not Back Punjab" CSK Legend Expects RCB To Lose IPL Qualifier Vs PBKS

Aakash Saini

PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer with Arshdeep Singh [Source: IPLT20.COM]PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer with Arshdeep Singh [Source: IPLT20.COM]

Punjab Kings, under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer, will be squaring off in their first appearance in a playoff in 11 years when they take on RCB in the first qualifier of the IPL 2025 season on Thursday, May 29. The franchise topped the points table at the end of the league stage to become one of the first sides of the competition to make it top four.

Former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden reckons that the Punjab Kings team has enough firepower in batting and potency in bowling to topple RCB and qualify straight for the finals.

Matthew Hayden says “Shreyas Iyer’s men truly the best”

While writing for the Times of India, former Australian cricketer and prominent commentator Matthew Hayden described Punjab Kings as “truly the best team” of the IPL 2025 season so far. Hayden praised Punjab Kings’ “effective openers” and in-form bowling line-up, and also cited the experienced leadership of Shreyas Iyer as one of the reasons behind their success.

He wrote:

“Punjab too come into the playoffs not merely alive, but confident. Their win over Delhi was impressive and showed that Shreyas Iyer’s men are truly the best team so far. Their impressive wins have been constructed on a powerful batting lineup — their openers have been very effective — and an in-form bowling unit. Looking at the match-up between the two sides, it would be hard to not back Punjab. A big plus for them is experienced leadership.”

The cricketer-turned-commentator further claimed that Shreyas Iyer has had a “great alignment” with the team and has managed the youngsters well. He added:

“Shreyas Iyer has been excellent. He has great alignment with the team and has been able to manage the youngsters in the side extremely well.”

Punjab Kings will face RCB in the first qualifier of the IPL 2025 season on Thursday, May 29. The action will commence from 7:30 PM IST onwards in Mullanpur.