Can Punjab Kings Overcome Their Qualifier 1 Defeat?

• By Dr. AK Rana

In a high-voltage clash that had fans on the edge of their seats, Punjab Kings defeated Mumbai Indians by 5 wickets in Qualifier 2, punching their ticket to the IPL 2025 final for just the second time in tournament history.

The heartbreak for Mumbai was massive, but the celebration in the Punjab camp was equally electric. After nearly a decade, they’re back in the biggest game of the season.

But this time, the stakes are different—and so are the opponents.

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A First-Time Champion Awaits

The final will see Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) take on Punjab Kings (PBKS)—two franchises that have never lifted the IPL trophy. Yes, you read that right.

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IPL 2025 will finally crown a first-time champion.

And that has sent a wave of goosebumps and giddy nervousness across fans of both teams.

Social media is buzzing.

Streets are loud.

Heartbeats are louder.

Because this isn’t just a final—it’s a shot at redemption.

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The Ghost of Qualifier 1

The elephant in the room?

RCB crushed Punjab Kings in Qualifier 1.

It wasn’t just a loss—it was a humbling, one-sided affair.

 And that memory still lingers.

RCB fans are smiling at the déjà vu, while PBKS supporters are biting their nails, wondering if their team has it in them to turn the tide.

History, too, is not on Punjab’s side.

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In past IPLs, the team that loses Qualifier 1, wins Qualifier 2… only to crash in the final.

The trend is hard to ignore.

And it leaves one pressing question:

Can Punjab Kings break the pattern?

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Shreyas Iyer: The Phoenix in Red

But if there’s one reason to still believe in Punjab—it’s their captain. Shreyas Iyer.

Once again, the man with a calm head and fearless bat showed up when it mattered most.

After a top-order collapse in Qualifier 2, he walked in and smashed the ball at a 200+ strike rate, shifting the momentum back.

Under pressure, he never blinked.

Post-match after losing in qualifier 1, he had already said:

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“We might have lost the battle, but not the war.”

That’s the kind of fire that finals are made of.

That’s the spirit that separates good players from great captains.

You have to hand it to Shreyas—Iyer seems to have a strange magic of transforming whichever team he captains into a resilient force. And this Punjab unit, often written off, now finds itself one step away from glory.

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Buzz Around the Final

Meanwhile, the build-up to the final feels like a movie.

Anushka Sharma, wife of RCB icon Virat Kohli, is rumoured to be fasting for the team’s win.

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AB de Villiers, the beloved Mr. 360°, has flown down to India, keeping his promise of watching RCB live if they make it to the final.

The energy is electric.

You can feel it in every conversation, tweet, and news headline.

So, Who Will Win?

Honestly?

I don’t know.

And maybe, I don’t want to.

Because that’s the beauty of this final—it’s unpredictable, emotional, and historic.

The prayers of two fanbases, who’ve stayed loyal through heartbreaks and even in memes fight on social media, will finally be heard.

But only one will end with tears of joy.

As for me?

I’ll be watching silently—pretending to be neutral—but I know my heart will secretly choose a side.

It always does.

Whichever way it swings, one thing’s for sure:

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IPL 2025 final will be unforgettable.

Who’s your pick for the trophy?

Let me know in the comments.

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