Matthew Hayden believes Punjab Kings will win Qualifier 1 because “Shreyas Iyer’s team is unquestionably the best team so far.”

Former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden has backed the Punjab team for the forthcoming match, despite the fact that the bulk of supporters will be rooting for Rajat Patidar’s RCB to win the championship. first IPL 2025 qualifier between the Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) is scheduled to take place at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Chandigarh.

The Australian pundit expressed his opinions about the Shreyas Iyer-led team as they prepare to play in their first postseason game in eleven years. Hayden has commended the leadership of Shreyas Iyer, who has been one of their best players this season, in addition to the team’s potent batting lineup and tough bowling attack.

According to Matthew Hayden, the Punjab Kings are worthy contenders to get to the final because they have been the “best team” in the competition this year.

Punjab also enters the playoffs not just alive but also with confidence. Their convincing victory over Delhi demonstrated that Shreyas Iyer’s team is currently the best in the league. Their potent batting lineup—their openers have been particularly successful—and an outstanding bowling unit have been the foundation of their outstanding victories. Given the two teams’ matchup, it would be difficult to not support Punjab. “Experienced leadership is a big plus for them,” the 53-year-old wrote in a Times of India (TOI) essay.

The path to the playoffs for RCB and PBKS

In the tournament, both sides have enjoyed a successful run. Due to their lower net run rate than the Shreyas Iyer-led team, RCB finished second on the points table despite having the same record as the Punjab Kings (PBKS), who finished first with nine wins, four losses, and one draw.

The winner of Qualifier 1 advances to the final, while the losing team faces the winner of the Eliminator in Qualifier 2.