TimesofIndia.com in Ahmedabad: Punjab Kings (PBKS) battled through three bouts of drizzling on Saturday ahead of IPL 2025 Qualifier 2 against Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
There were three mild showers during PBKS' three-hour training session in Ahmedabad. Ahead of the big match, PBKS may get their most experienced player, Yuzvendra Chahal, back in action. The 34-year-old, who missed PBKS' last three matches due to a wrist injury, would be desperate to play on Sunday.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Chahal's right wrist was protected, but the veteran spinner did train. He played football, took catches, and bowled a few balls in the empty net. It is yet to be seen how much his wrist has recovered, but TimesofIndia.com has learned that he is ready to take injections, if needed, to get back into the playing XI.
Chahal, a wily customer, will be needed by Shreyas Iyer against the five-time champions MI, who never slip up in the playoffs.
Meanwhile, MI have had their own share of injury issues. Deepak Chahar, who didn't play the Eliminator due to a hamstring strain in his left leg, was at the venue for his fitness test. The MI team had reached Ahmedabad at AM on a chartered flight, but their coaching staff and medical team were at the stadium, conducting Chahar's fitness test. The other MI bowler who made it to the stadium was left-arm quick Reece Topley.
Chahar looked fine, but if he is not match-fit, then Topley might play his first match for MI.
MI vs PBKS weather reportWhile there have been some light pre-monsoon showers in Ahmedabad in the days leading up to the match, the forecast for Sunday, June 1, suggests a low chance of rain during match hours.
MI vs PBKS pitch reportThe covers from the pitch at the Narendra Modi Stadium came off for barely five minutes, with MI coaching staff, including head coach Mahela Jayawardene, taking a quick look. This is the same pitch on which Gujarat Titans defended 217 against Rajasthan Royals, and Chennai Super Kings defended 230 against the home team. One can expect a run-fest in Qualifier 2. Of the 14 innings played in Ahmedabad, teams have crossed the 200-run mark on nine instances.
MI vs PBKS predicted playing XIs
Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (c), Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, Reece Topley, Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult
Impact Sub: Ashwani Kumar
Punjab Kings: Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya, Josh Inglis (wk), Shreyas Iyer (c), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Azmatullah Omarzai, Harpreet Brar, Kyle Jamieson, Yuzvendra Chahal
Impact Sub: Vyshak Vijaykumar