Aakash Chopra opens up on potential battles in PBKS vs RCB IPL 2025 Qualifier 1

Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has revealed two contests that can play a key role in deciding the result of PBKS vs RCB IPL 2025 Qualifier 1 at New Chandigarh on Thursday. Chopra reckons the battle between Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer and RCB ace fast bowler Josh Hazlewood will be the one to look out for.

Iyer has a slight weakness against the short-pitched deliveries and Hazlewood can extract extra bounce from the surface because of his extra height. 

Meanwhile, Hazlewood had dismissed Iyer in a rain-affected match earlier in the season. Iyer was caught behind by Jitesh Sharma after scoring only seven runs.

“The contests that could decide the fate of this match from Punjab’s point of view – one will be Shreyas Iyer vs Josh Hazlewood, if he is playing. That is the contest. The match will progress properly, whether it’s Josh Inglis or the two openers, but the job won’t be done without Shreyas scoring runs, and who can get him out?” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

“The way Josh Hazlewood dismissed him, and Jofra Archer also dismissed him at this ground, your focus will be on him. That is the contest to watch out for, if I talk about their batting,” he observed.

On the other hand, the renowned commentator picked Virat Kohli vs Arshdeep Singh as the other crucial contest of the PBKS vs RCB match. Singh can get the ball to swing back into the right-hander, and he can trouble in-form Kohli.

“In bowling, Arshdeep Singh vs Virat Kohli. Just like I am talking about Shreyas Iyer as a big player in a big match, there is no one bigger than Virat Kohli. You can pick any knockout game, the World Cup final, the semi-final we lost against England, or the Pakistan game, whenever the chips are down or you need somebody to fire, that’s Virat Kohli,” he said.

“Virat Kohli vs Arshdeep Singh, left-arm pacer, there could be something in there. So that is one contest that might actually also define where this game will go,” the cricketer-turned-commentator added.

RCB will take on Punjab Kings in the first qualifier at New Chandigarh on Thursday.