The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 is nearing its thrilling conclusion. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have already secured a spot in the grand final, while the race for the second finalist will be decided in Qualifier 2 between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) on June 1 in Ahmedabad. The winner will face RCB in the final showdown on June 3.
However, just days before this crucial clash, IPL’s official social media account stirred up a controversy with a cryptic and seemingly biased post.
The Viral Post That Sparked a Storm
On May 29, the IPL shared a graphic featuring RCB skipper Rajat Patidar standing beside the IPL trophy. What caught everyone’s attention was a mysterious shadowy figure next to him — implying an unnamed finalist — accompanied by the caption:
“2⃣ teams. 1⃣ seat next to #RCB 💙❤️
Qualifier 2 has all the answers 🔥
#TATAIPL | #TheLastMile”
The post became an instant talking point, particularly because of the 💙 blue heart emoji, which fans quickly associated with Mumbai Indians — whose signature color is blue.
Fans Spot Hardik Pandya’s Shadow?
Things escalated further when eagle-eyed fans suggested that the shadow figure resembled Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya. Comments poured in accusing the IPL of revealing or hinting at the outcome even before the match had taken place.
Here are a few notable reactions:
- “You’ve already put Hardik Pandya’s shadow 😭👏🏻”
- “So the shadow is already fixed to be Pandya?”
- “Hardik Pandya’s shadow with a blue heart emoji? What are you trying to say, IPL?”
- “It’s fixed! Hardik Pandya is the winner.”
- “Such posts spoil the spirit of the game. Let the teams fight it out on the field.”
While some viewed it as harmless promotion, others called it unfair, claiming it disrespected PBKS by seemingly favouring Mumbai even before the first ball of Qualifier 2 is bowled.
PBKS vs MI: A Tense Showdown Awaits
Amidst the digital drama, both teams are gearing up for a blockbuster face-off:
- Head-to-head record:
- Mumbai Indians: 17 wins
- Punjab Kings: 16 wins
- Last meeting: PBKS convincingly beat MI earlier this season.
Punjab Kings, led by a balanced core of youth and experience, are chasing their first IPL title, while MI, the five-time champions, aim to reassert their dominance under Pandya’s leadership.
With RCB waiting in the wings for the final, Qualifier 2 promises fireworks both on and off the pitch.
Final Thoughts
While the IPL has often used creative graphics to hype up fixtures, this time it seems their artistic liberties may have backfired. The blue heart emoji and shadow resembling Hardik Pandya have added unnecessary fuel to the fire of fixing allegations — a sensitive topic in Indian cricket.
Only time will tell which team earns the right to join RCB in the IPL 2025 final, but for now, the battle has already begun on social media.
