IPL 2025: PBKS vs RCB – Preview, Prediction, Starting XI and Where To Watch The Match LIVE

Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are set to face off in the 37th match of IPL 2025. The clash will take place on Sunday, April 20, at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur.

Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Preview

Josh Hazlewood took the opportunity to joke about the situation, correcting someone who mentioned the “day after” by reminding them that Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) play “tomorrow,” not the following day, when discussing the quick turnaround in IPL 2025 matches.

Friday night’s match against Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium ran into the early hours of Saturday due to a brief drizzle that delayed the game by more than two hours. By the time the final ball was bowled and RCB suffered a heavy defeat, there was hardly any time to reflect on the result—more pressing matters, like rest, recovery, and the long journey ahead, took priority.

With a nearly three-hour flight arriving late Saturday evening, both teams will be ready for the reverse fixture on Sunday afternoon. RCB, having won four away games so far, won’t be too concerned. However, they’ll face new challenges in Mullanpur: no training session, no chance to assess the pitch, and no opportunity to adapt to the slightly larger ground dimensions.

The Chinnaswamy pitch proved challenging for the batters, as PBKS restricted RCB to a mere 95 runs in 14 overs. While both PBKS and RCB are ranked second and third in terms of six-hitting this season, the pitch in Mullanpur could offer an unpredictable challenge on Sunday. The previous match there saw PBKS defend a mere 111 runs against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), marking the lowest total ever successfully defended in IPL history.

In RCB’s away fixtures, either Virat Kohli or Phil Salt has set the tone in the powerplay, allowing their explosive middle order to shine. This approach has been effective whether chasing down targets or setting one themselves, as demonstrated in their historic win over CSK at Chepauk—marking their first victory there since 2008.

PBKS have benefited from strong powerplay starts by Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh when batting first, but they’ve struggled with the same level of consistency while chasing targets. Nehal Wadhera has injected some much-needed spark into the middle order, and Shreyas Iyer will be eager to make amends after his early dismissal in Bengaluru, which has characterized a season of highs and lows for him.

While RCB’s bowling has been solid throughout the season, PBKS are finding their rhythm—first by defending the lowest total in IPL history last week, and then dismantling RCB on their home ground, briefly reminding fans of RCB’s infamous 49 all-out collapse.

This IPL clash is being billed as part of “revenge week.” While the teams may not frame it in those terms, they will be fully aware of the importance of securing the two points on offer. A win for RCB will bring them level with DC and PBKS, each with at least five wins, while a PBKS victory will propel them to the top of the table.

Arya has been explosive in IPL 2025, with a strike rate of 231, accumulating 208 runs in four innings while batting first. However, his performance in chases has been far less impressive, with an average of just 8 and a strike rate of 114.

David has been a standout performer in the latter stages of innings, hitting 22 sixes between overs 17-20 since IPL 2024, 12 of which have come this season alone.

Among batters who have scored at least 200 runs, Rajat Patidar boasts the highest strike rate for an RCB player against spin, with an impressive 182.

After a slow start to the season—two wickets in five games at an economy rate of 11.1—Chahal has found his rhythm, picking up six wickets in his last two matches, with a much-improved economy rate of 5.6.

As Punjab Kings’ head coach Ricky Ponting pointed out after their win against the defending champions, PBKS is a team full of confidence. However, they will face a Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) side that remains unbeaten on the road this season. While RCB has struggled at home, losing all three games in Bengaluru, they have maintained a perfect away record, with notable victories in Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai. This year, unlike in previous seasons, RCB’s squad seems better balanced across all departments.

Phil Salt has been a valuable addition to the team, with his explosive starts at the top playing a key role in RCB’s victories. Captain Rajat Patidar, veteran Virat Kohli, and Tim David have all been in solid form, complemented by useful contributions from Liam Livingstone and Jitesh Sharma. However, this batting lineup will need to be more strategic on tricky surfaces, as most of the batters are aggressive stroke players. The bowling attack, while effective, lacks a standout spinner, though Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma have outperformed expectations.

With Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar leading the attack with the new ball, they are arguably the best opening duo in the season. Their efforts will be crucial once again as they look to contain PBKS’ ultra-aggressive batting unit. Given that both teams have hard-hitting batters in their ranks, the outcome of this match could be determined by which bowling unit rises to the occasion. While Punjab Kings hold a slight edge in form and momentum from their earlier win, Royal Challengers Bengaluru have already proven themselves to be a formidable force away from home.

Among batters with the highest strike rates against spin this season (having faced 50 or more balls), Punjab Kings’ captain Shreyas Iyer is the only one who remains unbeaten, having not been dismissed even once.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru have struggled against short-of-a-good-length deliveries from pacers, losing 17 wickets this season—more than any other team.

Punjab Kings’ Yuzvendra Chahal has a significant disparity in his stats against left-handed and right-handed batters since IPL 2024. His economy rate against right-handed batters is 8.19, with a bowling average of 21.16. However, against left-handed batters, his economy rate increases to 11.07, and his average balloons to 46.37.

Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Recent Form

Punjab Kings WWLWL (last five, most-recent first)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru LWLWL

Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Head-to-Head

Punjab Kings 18-16 Royal Challengers Bengaluru

• Matches Played: 34
• Won by Punjab Kings: 18
• Won by Royal Challengers Bengaluru: 16
• Tied: 0
• No Result: 0
• First-ever Fixture: May 05, 2008
• Most-recent Fixture: April 18, 2025

Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Pitch Report and Weather Conditions

PBKS have found themselves just as puzzled by the pitches in Mullanpur as some of the visiting teams. In the previous game here, the surface offered plenty of assistance to fast bowlers from both sides. If the pitch behaves similarly, RCB could pose a significant challenge. Dew didn’t play a role when PBKS successfully defended 112 against KKR, and teams will hope it remains that way.

In the three games played at this venue this season, teams batting first have surpassed the 200-run mark twice. However, the most recent match saw an IPL record for the lowest total successfully defended, despite the pitch not appearing overly difficult. This will be the first afternoon match at the ground, as well as PBKS’ last home game here before they relocate to Dharamsala. The pitch is expected to offer a solid batting surface with some assistance for spinners and bowlers who can vary their pace.

Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Team News and Predicted XI

Punjab Kings – Team News

Harpreet Brar is likely to keep his place after impressing in his first match. Glenn Maxwell, who was left out at the Chinnaswamy, will compete with Josh Inglis for a spot in the playing XI. Meanwhile, Lockie Ferguson remains sidelined due to injury and is expected to miss the rest of the season.

Brar made his season debut in the previous encounter between the two teams, a tactical decision considering RCB’s right-hand heavy batting line-up and Brar’s strong record against them. The left-arm spinner took two wickets, bringing his total to ten wickets in seven games against RCB, with an impressive economy rate of 7.71. Yuzvendra Chahal has also had good results against right-handed batters since IPL 2024, with an economy rate of 8.19, 18 wickets from 279 balls, and a dot ball percentage of 31.

Punjab Kings – Predicted XI

1. Prabhsimran Singh
2. Priyansh Arya
3. Shreyas Iyer
4. Josh Inglis/Glenn Maxwell
5. Nehal Wadhera
6. Shashank Singh
7. Marcus Stoinis
8. Harpreet Brar
9. Marco Jansen
10. Xavier Bartlett
11. Arshdeep Singh
12. Yuzvendra Chahal

Royal Challengers Bengaluru – Team News

RCB’s only selection dilemma revolves around whether to continue backing Liam Livingstone, with Jacob Bethell and Romario Shepherd available as alternatives. It’s also expected that Devdutt Padikkal will return to the No. 3 spot. There are no reported injury or availability concerns.

Among batters with the best strike rates against spin this season (having faced at least 50 balls), Shreyas Iyer is the only player to remain unbeaten, boasting a strike rate of 186.79. This makes him a key wicket on a pitch that could favor spin. However, Krunal Pandya has a strong record against Iyer, who strikes at just 89.13 against left-arm spin. Iyer has only been dismissed once in 46 balls, scoring 41 runs, but has struggled against Krunal. This matchup could play a pivotal role in the game.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru – Predicted XI

1. Phil Salt
2. Virat Kohli
3. Devdutt Padikkal
4. Rajat Patidar (wk)
5. Liam Livingstone/Romario Shephard
6. Jitesh Sharma (wk)
7. Tim David
8. Krunal Pandya
9. Bhuvneshwar Kumar
10. Josh Hazlewood
11. Yash Dayal
12. Suyash Sharma

Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Players To Watch Out For

Arshdeep Singh (Punjab Kings)

Arshdeep Singh has taken some time to find his rhythm in the powerplay, largely due to the lack of late swing. This resulted in him picking up only one wicket during the powerplay in the first six games.

However, in Bengaluru against RCB, he made a strong impact by dismissing Phil Salt and Virat Kohli in consecutive overs—both wickets coming from deliveries that were bowled into the surface. His return to form is a positive sign for PBKS.

Tim David (Royal Challengers Bengaluru)

The 26 balls Tim David faced during his unbeaten 50 against PBKS on Friday night marked the most he has faced in an IPL innings. He helped steer the innings through a potential collapse, taking it into the final two overs and confidently backing himself to deliver.

His aggressive knock, which included 32 runs, ended up being his highest score in the IPL. Given Liam Livingstone’s struggles with form, the question arises: should David be considered for a promotion in the batting order?

Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Prediction

Scenario 1

• Toss: Punjab Kings win the toss and bat
• Powerplay Score: 65-75
• Punjab Kings Total: 215-230
• Match Result: Punjab Kings win the match

Scenario 2

• Toss: Royal Challengers Bengaluru win the toss and bat
• Powerplay Score: 55-65
• Royal Challengers Bengaluru Total: 200-215
• Match Result: Royal Challengers Bengaluru win the match

When and Where To Watch Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru LIVE? Broadcast and Streaming Details

The Indian Premier League 2025 clash between Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru is set to begin at 3:30 PM IST on Sunday, April 20, at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur. The match will be broadcast live on the Star Sports network and will also be available for live streaming on JioHotstar for FREE.

Read More: IPL 2025: Buttler’s 97* Guides Gujarat Titans to a Nail-Biting Last-Over Victory Over DC

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