The first playoff match of the 18th season of Indian Premier League (IPL) will be played tomorrow, Thursday, May 29. The first qualifier match will be played between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh.

After the group stage, PBKS finished first in the points table while RCB finished second. Now the team that wins the Qualifier-1 match will get a 'Ticket to the Final'.

Also Read: Every heated moment of IPL 2025 that you missed

Both the teams had a great season so far and are among the favourites to lift their maiden IPL title this year. PBKS have qualified into the playoffs after 11 years while RCB made into the top-two for the first time after 2016.

Ahead of their clash in the IPL 2025 playoffs, PBKS and RCB met twice in the league stage this year with both teams winning one game each. Now, looking for their maiden title, both PBKS and RCB are now just a win away from getting into the final. However, the losing team will also get another chance in the qualifier two. 

From possible playing XIs to head-to-head record, here is everything you need to know about the Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Qualifier 1 in IPL 2025.

Match Details

• Match: Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru
• Tournament: IPL 2025, Qualifier 1
• Date: 29 May 2025
• Time: 7:30 PM IST
• Venue: Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadiu, New Chandigarh

Streaming Details

Cricket fans from India can watch the PBKS vs RCB Qualifier 1 LIVE on Star Sports TV Channels on Television. They can also stream the match LIVE on JioHotstar for free.

Pitch Report

The newly-constructed Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh provides an equal contest for both the batters and the bowlers. Out of eight IPL matches played at this ground so far, the team batting first five times while the chasing team came out victorious on four occasions. The average score at this ground is around 170 runs.

Weather Report

The New PCA stadium in Mullanpur is expected to witness temperature highs of up to 40 degree Celsius and lows of 24 degree Celsius on Thursday, with the forecast predicting a mostly sunny day, with the chance of a few clouds.

PBKS vs RCB: Head-to-Head Record

Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru have faced each other 35 times in the IPL history so far. Out of these 35 matches, PBKS won 18 times while RCB defeated them on 17 occasions.

PBKS vs RCB: Recent Team Performances

Also Read: IPL Table toppers: IPL Playoffs teams from 2008 to 2025

Possible XIs

Punjab Kings: Priyansh Arya, Josh Inglis (wk), Shreyas Iyer (c), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Harpreet Brar, Kyle Jamieson, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh

Impact Subs: Yuzvendra Chahal

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Philip Salt, Virat Kohli, Mayank Agarawal, Tim David, Jitesh Sharma (c & wk), Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma

Impact Subs: Rajat Patidar

Fantasy Team Prediction

Prabhsimran Singh (vc), Josh Inglis, Phil Salt, Virat Kohli (c), Shreyas Iyer, Priyansh Arya, Mayank Agarwal, Krunal Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harpreet Brar.

The battle of supremacy in Test centuries has come a long way in cricket history. Some early established test records, defined by batting greatness, are nearly impossible to imagine being surpassed. The record for most test centuries in cricket history is one of them.

This prestigious list consists of legendary batters around the globe who have shaped the golden era of test cricket with their run-scoring consistency and centuries.

Discover the complete list of players with the most test centuries in cricket history and embrace their legacies.

Most Test Centuries in Cricket History

1. Sachin Tendulkar (IND) | 51 centuries

The 'Little Master' Sachin Tendulkar stands right at the top with 51 test centuries in his career, spanning from 1989 to 2013. His career was a saga of brilliance against every bowling attack in every condition.

From being the youngest Indian to score a Test century at the age of 17 years and 109 days in 1990, to ending up having the most test centuries in cricket history, Tendulkar has achieved it all!

He has consistently scored tons, becoming the first and only player to ever cross the fifty-mark in test centuries. These numbers let us believe that maybe some records can never be broken.

Read Also: Youngest Indian cricketers to score an international century

2. Jacques Kallis (SA) | 45 centuries

The legendary all-rounder, Jacques Kallis, graced the longest format from 1995 to 2013, amassing 45 test centuries. He is the only South African to feature at the top of this list and to have scored more than 30 test centuries.

Apart from personal milestones, his hundreds were often foundational blocks for South Africa's innings in the game. He provided the key balance the team needed, contributing to secure a win or draw.

3. Ricky Ponting (AUS) | 41 centuries

Ricky Ponting, the former Australian captain, led Australia through a golden era, scoring 41 centuries between 1995 to 2012. Known for his aggressive yet classy style, he thrived especially in big matches, putting the opposition under pressure.

One of the memorable moments in his century collection is the twin centuries during his 100th test match against South Africa in Sydney. This came in 2006, where Ponting scored back-to-back 120 and 142* in two innings.

He is the 3rd batter to go 40+ in the list of most test centuries in cricket history.

Read Also: Most Test Runs in Cricket History (Men's)

4. Joe Root (ENG) | 39 centuries

England's highest scorer in tests, Joe Root, has scored 39 test centuries so far in his career. He has scored the most hundreds for his nation and is also the batter with the most test tons in WTC history.

He reached his 39th test century against India at the Oval, during the 5th test of their Anderson-Tendulkar series. Root is currently the World's No. 1 in the ICC Test batter rankings, and the only player in the top 5 of this list who has not yet retired.

Root's fiery form is a clear indication of him soaring higher in all charts of test cricket records, setting the standards for generations to come.

Read Also: Joe Root vs Sachin Tendulkar – Test Stats Compared: Can Root break Sachin's record

5. Kumar Sangakkara (SL) | 38 centuries

The Sri Lankan batting maestro, Kumar Sangakkara, is a perfect example of elegance and power blended together. His ability to score big placed him in the top 5 of most test centuries in cricket history.

Sangakkara scored 38 test centuries from 2000 to 2015. One of his defining moments in his career was his 287 runs against South Africa in 2006. This knock was a part of the record-breaking partnership of 624 runs with his teammate, Mahela Jayawardene.

Most Test Centuries in Cricket History (TOP 20)

3️⃣8️⃣

Joe Root scores his 38th test ton, equalling Kumar Sangakkara's record. 💯

He now has the 4th most centuries in test cricket history.

His 12 test tons against India is also a record! #JoeRoot #ENGvsIND #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/zqdcfUunfL

— Sportz Point (@sportz_point) July 25, 2025

Here's the tabular breakdown of the Top 20 players having the most test centuries in cricket history, featuring 6 players from Australia, 4 from India, and several other cricketing nations.

Note: Article was first written by Snighda Halder on 26th July, 2025 and later got updated by the editorial team.

BCCI has announced the schedule for the upcoming Duleep Trophy 2025 which begins on August 28 in Bengaluru. After this, the announcement of the names of team captains has also started. This time also, like the old format, teams from four zones will participate in it. Now, as per the latest developments, the squad of West Zone has been announced.

While Shardul Thakur has been made the new captain of the team, Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara have not found a place in the team.

Also Read: Sachin-Sourav, Mahela-Sanga: 5 best cricketing friendships in history

Shreyas and Jaiswal will play under Shardul's captaincy

The West Zone team has been announced for the Duleep Trophy. This time the captaincy has been handed over to Shardul Thakur. Shreyas Iyer and Yashasvi Jaiswal will be seen playing under the captaincy of Shardul Thakur. Apart from this, Sarfaraz Khan, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Tushar Deshpande have also been included in the team.  

However, Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara, who have been playing continuously for this team, are not seen in the squad this time.

Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane last played a Test match for India in 2023. Pujara played a crucial role in India’s Test series victories in Australia in 2018-19 and 2020-21. Notably, Rahane captained Team India to a memorable Border-Gavaskar Trophy win in 2020-21 despite several key players being unavailable.

Shreyas Iyer set to available for West Zone

Shreyas Iyer had made himself available for the upcoming Duleep Trophy. The middle-order batter has played 14 Test matches for India. However, he has not been part of the Test setup since February 2024, when he last featured against England.

Iyer was a key figure in India’s Champions Trophy-winning campaign in Dubai earlier this year. He also scored 480 runs in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy at an average of 68.57, including two centuries. He continued his form into the IPL, where he led Punjab Kings to their first final in over a decade.

Also Read: ICC Rankings: Abhishek Sharma becomes No.1 T20I batter, Gill and Hardik at top in ODI, Bumrah in tests

Duleep Trophy | West Zone squad

Shardul Thakur (Capt), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Aarya Desai, Harvik Desai (wk), Shreyas Iyer, Sarfaraz Khan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Jaymeet Patel, Manan Hingrajia, Saurabh Nawale (wk), Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, Dharmendra Jadeja, Tushar Deshpande, Arzan Nagwaswala.

Duleep Trophy 2025 full schedule

According to Cricbuzz, South Zone and West Zone have been handed direct qualification into the Duleep Trophy 2025 semifinals. And the two quarterfinals are already set.

Since the beginning, India has been known for producing great batsmen. From great Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, and Rahul Dravid to Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, they have all been among the best batsmen of their respective eras. Though all of these batters have set multiple records, only a few could score over 600 test runs in a series.

In this article, we present you with the list of players with the most runs for India in a test series.

Most Runs for India in a Test Series

#1. Suni Gavaskar | 774 in 1970-71 vs West Indies

In India's tour of the West Indies in 1970-71, Sunil Gavaskar made his debut and became the first Indian batter to score 700 or more runs in a test series. In the five-match test series against West Indies, Gavaskar scored 774 runs with an average of 154.80.

The highlight of the series was his 124 and a brilliant 220 in the final test. During that historic series, Gavaskar also struck four centuries and three half-centuries in eight innings, which helped India win the five-match test series by 1-0.

Read Also | Youngest Cricketers to lead India in Tests

#2. Sunil Gavaskar | 732 in 1978-79 vs West Indies

Sunil Gavaskar is the only Indian batter to have scored over 700 runs in a test series, that too for two times in his career. During the six-match test series against West Indies at home in 1978-79, Gavaskar slammed a total of 732 runs in nine innings with an unbelievable average of 91.50. This is also a record for an Indian captain in a test series.

The little master slammed four centuries and one half-century with a best of 205 and helped India win that six-match series by 1-0.

Read Also | Indian Captains to record two hundreds in a Test match

#3 Shubman Gill | 722* in 2025 vs England

In the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar series 2025, the current Indian test captain has scored 722 runs in 4 test matches so far. In his first test series as a captain, Shubman Gill first broke the record for the highest test score by an Indian captain and then went on to equal the record for most test centuries in a series (4). 

Gill is currently the third batter in test history to score 4 test centuries as a captain in a single series, alongside Don Bradman and Sunil Gavaskar. Till now, Gill has scored 722 runs at an average of 90.25 and has converted every fifty into a ton. He will get two more innings to break Sunil Gavaskar's record.

He is now the third on the list of players with the most runs for India in a test series.

Read Also | Every record Shubman Gill broke during the ENG vs IND, 2nd test at Edgbaston

#4 Yashasvi Jaiswal | 712 in 2024 vs England

Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal ended up as the leading run-scorer of the recently concluded IND vs ENG 2024 test series with 712 runs in five matches. He struck two double hundreds and three fifties in the test series.

The 22-year-old became the second batter after legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar to score 700 or more runs in a test series.

Read Also | Indian Captains to Score Double Tons in Test Cricket: Shubman Gill joins an elite list

#5 Virat Kohli | 692 in 2014-15 vs Australia

King Kohli has smashed more than 1500 test runs against the mighty Aussies. However, his career-best performance against the Australian side came in the four-match test series in 2014-15 on Australian soil. The right-handed batter fought alone and ended the series with 692 runs in four matches at an average of 86.50, including four centuries and one half-century.

His best score was 169 in that series. Despite his brilliant performance, India lost the series 2-0.

Read Also | Most successful Test captains from India

#6 Virat Kohli | 655 in 2016 vs England

During the England vs India 2016/17 test series, Virat Kohli brought out his best against the English side. During the five-match series, the former Indian skipper hammered 655 runs, including two centuries and two half-centuries, with the highest score of 235 with a huge average of 109.16 in eight innings.

Kohli's outstanding performance helped India win the five-match series 4-0.

Note: The article was first written by Abishek Goswami and then was updated by Koushik Biswas.

The Nation England has produced some extraordinary Batsmen in Cricket. They have impressed Cricket fans from all over the world with their achievements and glory. The test is considered the Best Format in Cricket. England has & had some players who are the best among many in the world of Test Cricket. Sir Jack Hobbs is considered the Best Test Batsman for England in Tests. He has scored 5410 runs in just 102 innings with 15 centuries and 28 half-centuries.

In recent times of greats, Joe Root has proven himself one of the greatest if not the greatest for England in Test Format as he has every right due to his achievements. Now, Let's give a look at the list of the Top 5 Batsmen with the most test centuries for England.

Read Also: Most International Hundreds among Active Players

Top 5 Batsmen with the Most Test Centuries for England:

1. Joe Root | 38 Centuries

England batter Joe Root has written his name in the history books for England in Test Format by bringing up his 38th Test hundred on the third day of the fourth Test between England and India in Manchester. With this century, Root also climbed to second on the all time list of Test run-scorers. Moreover, he also overtook Graham Gooch as the highest run-scorer at Lord's in international cricket. 

Root made his debut in 2012 against team India and since then he has played 157* test matches. He has scored 13,409 runs with an average of 51.17.

2. Alastair Cook | 33 Centuries

Alastair Cook was one of the greats in Test Cricket of his generation. He made his debut against India in 2006 for the national team in Test Cricket. Cook played 161 Test matches in which he batted 291 innings. He scored 12,472 runs with an average of 45.35. His highest score was 294 and he made 33 centuries and 57 half-centuries for his team. Cook played his last Test Match against India in 2018.

3. Kevin Pietersen | 23 Centuries

Kevin Pietersen has proved himself across every format for England. He made his Test debut in 2005 against the Australian side at Lords. Pietersen played 104 test matches, in which he scored 8181 runs with an average of 47.29. He played his last test match against Australia in 2014. Kevin Pietersen is third on the list with 23 Centuries.

4. Wally Hammond | 22 Centuries

The judgment of cricket history is that the greatest batsmen the game has known are - WG Grace, Jack Hobbs, Walter Hammond, and Don Bradman. Others may come close indeed to those four but do not quite take place with them. Hammond made his test debut against South Africa in 1927. He played 85 test matches and scored 7249 runs with an average of 58.45. He is 4th on the list with 22 test centuries. The Great Walter Hammond played his last Test match against New Zealand in 1947.

5. Colin Cowdrey | 22 Centuries

Colin Cowdrey mostly known as Michael Cowdrey played Cricket for 21 years, One of the most durable batsmen in the history of Test Cricket. Cowdrey made his test debut in 1954 against the Aussies and played 114 matches, scoring 7624 runs with an average of 44.06. He is 5th on the list with the same no as Wally Hammond, 22 centuries. Michael Cowdrey played his last test match in 1975 against the Australian side.

Top 10 Players with the Most Centuries in Test Cricket for England:

The rivalry between England and India in Test cricket at Lord's is not just a series of matches; it's a chapter of cricketing history. From India's first Test match at Lord's in 1932 to their more recent historic victories, each game has contributed a new and evolved Indian side.

While England has historically held the upper hand at Lord's, the battles have been extremely thrilling and hard-fought. Get ready to delve into every result from India vs England test at Lord's.

ENG vs IND Test at Lord's: Who holds the edge?

India has played 19 test matches against England at the iconic Lord's, spanning from 1932 to 2021.

Read Also: Most Test Wickets Taken by Indian Bowlers at Lord's

Every result from India vs England test at Lord's

Let's take a look at the detailed summary of the games played by different eras of both teams.

1932-1967: England dominated the early stages

The Indian team, led by C.K. Nayudu, faced a loss by 158 runs in their first match at Lord's against England. The English captain, Douglas Jardine, played a key role in securing this one, along with good team efforts.

Following the 1932 defeat, India lost 5 consecutive matches in the years: 1936, 1946, 1952, 1952, 1959, and 1957. They lacked consistency as a team and were unable to make things right again.

On the other hand, England dominantly made their mark at the iconic venue, winning matches by huge margins.

Read Also: Most Test Wins by a Team since 2010

1971: A much-needed draw for India

After being defeated multiple times, and England acquiring the undefeatable title, India finally saw a ray of hope in 1971. This was the first time a match was drawn in the 39 years of defeats faced by India at Lord's.

Ajit Wadekar was captaining the Indian side during the tour, and he was also the highest-scoring batsman in the first innings. Bowlers like Srinivas Venkataraghavan, Bishan Singh Bedi, and Bhagwat Chandrasekhar brilliantly tackled the English line-up to secure this much-needed draw.

1974-1982: India's struggle to get a hold of momentum

After the draw in 1971, England shattered all the hopes of Indian fans with a huge victory in 1974. Batting first, ENG set a massive total of 629 runs, with the help of 3 centurions and 96 runs from John Edrich.

They bowled out India for 302 and 42 in the first and second innings (respectively) and sealed the win by an innings and 258 runs.

The year 1979 saw another draw between both teams. India's star player, Dilip Vengsarkar, smashed a century which saved India from the face of another defeat and also earned him the POTM title.

However, England kept coming back stronger after the drawn matches. Despite great efforts from Kapil Dev, who scored 41 & 89 runs in the match, and picked 8 wickets overall, India could not save the match in 1982.

Read Also: Most runs vs England in England for India in tests

1986: India's first historic win against England at Lord's

India finally broke off their streak of defeat against England at Lord's in 1986, with their 5-wicket victory. Under the captaincy of Kapil Dev, India showcased a passionate gameplay and their desire to win. It was the first time in decades that they seemed to play as a team with extraordinary efforts.

A hundred from Vengsarkar, a half-century from Mohinder Amarnath, along wicket-taking spells of Chetan Sharma and the skipper were some vital performances that made a huge difference in the end.

1990-2011: England gains the upper hand once again

Between 1990 and 2011, England consistently avoided defeat against India. In the 5 matches played during this period, they secured 3 wins and 2 draws, ensuring India did not record a single victory.

2014: India shines for the second time

In 2014, India achieved a 95-run victory over England at Lord's, marking their second win in the history of test rivalry against England at this venue. Led by MS Dhoni, the modern Indian side put up a compelling fight against the English giants.

Key performances included Ajinkya Rahane's 103 in the first innings (India 295, England 319), Murali Vijay's 95 in India's second innings (India 342), and Ishant Sharma's match-winning 7/74 that bowled England out for 223, clinching the win.

Read Also: Best test bowling figure in an inning by any Indian bowler at Lord's

2018: A tough tour for India

The 2018 Lord's test between India and England was a one-sided affair. After the rain-affected first day, India collapsed for just 107 in their first innings, largely due to James Anderson's 5/20.

England then posted a commanding 396/7 declared, with Chris Woakes scoring an unbeaten 137. In their second innings, Anderson continued his wicket-taking spells, picking up another 4. As a result, the struggling Indian side was bowled out for 130.

England secured a decisive victory by an innings and 159 runs.

2021: India's heroic comeback

The 2021 Lord's Test marked a historic triumph for India, under the phenomenal leadership of Virat Kohli. His passion and consistently backing his team up proved to be vital in turning the tide of a match that seemed to be slipping away.

The match was a rollercoaster of emotions. India's first innings saw a brilliant partnership between Rohit Sharma (scored 83 runs) and KL Rahul (scored 129 runs) that helped them reach a total of 364 runs. 

After England took a first-innings lead of 27 runs, India soared higher in the second innings, declaring at 298/8. The final day witnessed an extraordinary display of Indian fast bowling.

After a fiery spell from Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, it was Mohammed Siraj, whose precise line and length ripped through England's batting line-up.

Read Also: Ranking all Indian captains in ICC events

England were bowled out for just 120, handing India a memorable 151-run victory. With this victory, Kohli became the third Indian captain to achieve a Test win against England at Lord's, following the footsteps of Kapil Dev (1986) and MS Dhoni (2014).

England vs India head-to-head in tests at Lord's