Aakash Chopra questions PBKS’ pitch preparation for IPL 2025 Qualifier 1 vs RCB

Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra questioned Punjab Kings for preparing a bowling-friendly pitch for the first qualifier against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at New Chandigarh on Thursday. The home team was bundled out for a meagre score of 101 runs after they were put into bat by RCB skipper Rajat Patidar.

There was extra bounce in the surface for the bowlers whereas there was also help for the spinners. Josh Hazlewood and Suyash Sharma were able to make the most of the conditions, bagging three wickets apiece.

While Sharma accounted for Marcus Stoinis, Shashank Singh, Musheer Khan, Hazlewood dismissed Azmatullah Omarzai, Shreyas Iyer, and Josh Inglis.

Furthermore, PBKS batters were also not up to the mark as they played some reckless shots irrespective of the match situation, and it led to their downfall.

“Punjab, this was your home game, so why did you make a pitch like that? The opposing team’s fast bowling is only good, and your guy, Marco Jansen, had left. You needed a flat pitch. You should have played on an absolute road,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

“Such good highways have been made from Delhi to Chandigarh. A road like that should have been prepared, but they didn’t do that. The pitch they prepared had grass and help for the bowlers,” he added.

On the other hand, the renowned commentator believes PBKS opener Prabhsimran Singh could have played a bit cautiously after getting two boundaries against Bhuvneshwar Kumar but the right-hander was caught behind by Jitesh Sharma in the same over.

“Yash Dayal picked up the first wicket. The ball was bouncing a little extra. Priyansh Arya got out. After that, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and that’s when I felt Prabhsimran Singh could have played a little more carefully. He had already hit two fours, and this pitch was slightly green and had a little bounce and sideways movement,” he said in the same video.

Chopra also questioned PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer’s shot selection after the right-hander was dismissed for two.

“Yash Dayal picked up the first wicket. The ball was bouncing a little extra. Priyansh Arya got out. After that, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and that’s when I felt Prabhsimran Singh could have played a little more carefully. He had already hit two fours, and this pitch was slightly green and had a little bounce and sideways movement,” he said in the same video.

Punjab Kings will face the winners of Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians’ eliminator contest in the second qualifier on Sunday.