Himachal Pradesh are favourites to win with a confidence level of 56.8%. Their strong batting lineup, led by Arindam Das and Abhinav Tiwari, gives them an edge over Puducherry.

The key battleground will be the spin-friendly pitch at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Himachal Pradesh have experience playing on similar surfaces, while Puducherry may struggle to adapt quickly. The average score at this venue is 160, and a chase rate of 50% suggests that batting second could be beneficial.

The spinning conditions and moderate scoring band will likely favor the team batting second, making it crucial for Himachal Pradesh's bowlers to deliver early breakthroughs and put pressure on Puducherry.