Royal Challengers Bengaluru will take on Punjab Kings in Match 34 of IPL 2025 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Friday, April 18.
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Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Punjab Kings: Preview
Both teams sit at third and fourth in the standings, and the stakes are high — the winner will leap to 10 points, drawing level with table-toppers Delhi Capitals, ahead of a quick turnaround rematch on Sunday afternoon in New Chandigarh.
Swagger, after all, isn’t in short supply for this PBKS side. Their lineup is packed with aggressive intent and big-hitting muscle—a quality they share with upcoming opponents Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Both teams have identical 4-2 records heading into the halfway mark of the season, making Friday’s encounter a tantalising prospect. It’s the first of two back-to-back fixtures between the form sides, setting the stage for a potential batting blockbuster in Bengaluru.
However, the Chinnaswamy Stadium has produced more questions than runs this season. It’s a pattern that has deepened RCB’s ongoing woes at home. In both of their outings here so far, they’ve batted first and failed to cross the 170-mark. Against Gujarat Titans, they were undone by Mohammed Siraj’s incisive swing and seam, while Delhi Capitals used the sluggish surface to their advantage with spin, stalling RCB’s innings. The conditions even prompted mentor Dinesh Karthik to admit the team had been caught off guard by how the pitches have played.
RCB haven’t quite made the most of home advantage in IPL 2025 so far. All four of their victories have come on the road, which is why they remain unfazed by back-to-back losses at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. However, they now face one of the tournament’s most explosive powerplay lineups — and must win to avoid what Rajat Patidar described as a “two-match coincidence” from becoming a worrying three-match trend.
Interestingly, both home defeats followed a similar script. RCB lost the toss, were put in to bat, and posted modest totals — 169 for 8 and 163 for 7 — on sluggish tracks that became easier for chasing due to Bengaluru’s evening dew. In their last outing at home against Delhi Capitals, Phil Salt’s aggressive start, helping RCB race to 50 in just three overs, was a deliberate ploy to exploit the new ball before conditions slowed down.
It’s not just the batters who’ve struggled at home — RCB’s pace unit has also found it tough. While Josh Hazlewood boasts decent overall stats with nine wickets at an economy of 8.65, his returns at Chinnaswamy have been underwhelming: just one wicket and an expensive 12.1 economy rate.
RCB, with their deep batting line-up, have often looked to muscle their way out of trouble at home — a strategy that mirrors PBKS’s approach on that challenging surface in New Chandigarh, where attacking intent backfired as wickets fell in clusters. The Chinnaswamy track, too, may once again demand guile over brute force, with both teams needing to balance power with finesse.
Rajat Patidar and his teammates have appeared more composed away from home, and with the pitches in Bengaluru behaving unpredictably, RCB might benefit from a mental reset — treating their fortress more like unfamiliar territory. That mindset shift could be the key to unlocking consistency on home soil.
Phil Salt has been electric at the top for RCB, emerging as the leading run-scorer in the powerplay this season. He’s blasted 11 sixes and boasts a staggering strike rate of 193.61 in the first six overs, setting the tone early with aggressive intent.
Among the 75 players who have batted at least 10 times in the IPL since 2024, Glenn Maxwell stands out for the wrong reasons — he is the only one with an average below 10, managing just 6.64 runs per innings.
Former RCB stars Glenn Maxwell and Vyshak Vijaykumar have switched allegiances and now don the Punjab Kings jersey, while wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma has made the move in the opposite direction, joining Royal Challengers Bengaluru for IPL 2025.
Punjab Kings come into the clash with RCB boasting serious firepower at the top of the order. Priyansh Arya (216) and Shreyas Iyer (205) currently hold the highest and third-highest strike rates respectively among batters who’ve faced at least 50 deliveries this season.
PBKS are riding the momentum of a thrilling win, having defended the lowest total in IPL history against Kolkata Knight Riders just two nights ago. Yuzvendra Chahal, who was named Player of the Match for his four-wicket haul, marked a stunning return to form. The leg-spinner, a former RCB stalwart of eight seasons, still holds the record for most IPL wickets at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.
“I thought this was [already] a season-defining moment,” remarked Ricky Ponting after Punjab Kings pulled off a sensational defence of 111 against the reigning champions. Even if they’d fallen short, Ponting felt the fight would’ve carried meaning. But PBKS didn’t just fight—they rewrote history. Just one match after failing to defend a mammoth 245, they delivered the lowest successful defence in IPL history, sparking a wave of belief that could easily evolve into full-blown swagger.
Yuzvendra Chahal, now with Punjab Kings, remains a towering presence at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, having claimed 52 wickets—the most by any bowler at the venue in IPL history. His recent four-wicket haul took him to eight career four-fors in the tournament — tying him with Sunil Narine for the most in IPL history.
PBKS have set the tone with the bat this season, boasting the best powerplay run rate at 11 runs per over. Hot on their heels are RCB, who aren’t far behind with a rate of 10.4.
But the battle in the first six overs isn’t just about runs—RCB have also brought control and precision to the phase, thanks to powerplay specialists Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. With economy rates of 5.4 and 6.2 respectively, the duo has been instrumental in RCB recording the highest dot-ball percentage (50.9%) during the powerplay.
A fascinating individual subplot could unfold between Arshdeep Singh and Phil Salt. The left-arm quick, now leading the PBKS attack, dismissed Salt twice during the India-England T20I series earlier this year, and will be eager to continue that dominance in Friday’s clash.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Punjab Kings: Recent Form
Royal Challengers Bengaluru WLWLW (last five results, most recent first)
Punjab Kings WLWLW
Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Punjab Kings: Head-to-Head
RCB 16-17 PBKS – Despite winning the last three encounters, RCB still trail in the head-to-head record against Punjab Kings.
- Matches Played: 33
- Won by Royal Challengers Bengaluru: 16
- Won by Punjab Kings: 17
- Tied: 0
- No Result: 1
- First-ever Fixture: May 5, 2008
- Most-recent Fixture: May 9, 2024
Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Punjab Kings: Pitch Report and Weather Conditions
The Chinnaswamy Stadium hasn’t been the batting paradise it’s known for this IPL season. The surfaces have played sluggish and uneven, preventing RCB from breaching the 170-run mark while setting targets in both their home outings. The pitch curator attributes the slower nature to intense heat and dry conditions, though recent showers and cooler evenings might offer some relief.
As the city continues to experience unseasonal rainfall in the lead-up, there’s a chance of scattered showers during the game. Regardless of weather, teams are expected to prefer chasing — especially with the venue witnessing a perfect win record for sides batting second so far this season.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Punjab Kings: Team News and Predicted XI
Royal Challengers Bengaluru – Team News
RCB are expected to field an unchanged lineup following their dominant nine-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur, with no injury or availability issues to report. Glenn Maxwell has struggled to find form early this season, but facing his former team in familiar conditions could be just what he needs to regain his rhythm.
However, he will be up against Krunal Pandya, a bowler who has dismissed him five times in the IPL. Krunal has also had success against other big hitters, having kept Shreyas Iyer (88.89 SR) and Marcus Stoinis (110.71 SR) quiet in previous encounters.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru – Predicted XI
- Phil Salt
- Virat Kohli
- Devdutt Padikkal
- Rajat Patidar (capt)
- Liam Livingston
- Jitesh Sharma (wk)
- Tim David
- Krunal Pandya
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar
- Josh Hazlewood
- Yash Dayal
- Suyash Sharma
Punjab Kings – Team News
Lockie Ferguson is unlikely to feature again in IPL 2025 after sustaining a suspected hip injury during the SRH match. PBKS coach Ricky Ponting mentioned that Josh Inglis was picked over Marcus Stoinis in the previous game against KKR due to his strength against spin. If Inglis keeps his place, PBKS will need to decide between the out-of-form Maxwell and Stoinis.
Yuzvendra Chahal isn’t just the IPL’s all-time leading wicket-taker; he’s also a master at Chinnaswamy, with no bowler claiming more T20 wickets at the venue. His recent performance against KKR showed he still holds the strings. Sixteen of his 24 IPL wickets since 2024 have been right-handers, and with RCB’s top eight featuring six right-handers and the surface promising some grip, Chahal will have the perfect conditions to weave his magic.
Punjab Kings – Predicted XI
- Priyansh Arya
- Prabhsiman Singh
- Shreyas Iyer (capt)
- Josh Inglis (wk)
- Nehal Wadhera
- Glenn Maxwell/Marcus Stoinis
- Shashank Singh
- Marco Jansen
- Yuzvendra Chahal
- Xavier Bartlett
- Arshdeep Singh,
- Suryansh Shedge
Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Punjab Kings: Players To Watch Out For
Devdutt Padikkal (Royal Challengers Bengaluru)
Devdutt Padikkal’s struggles at home (with scores of 1 and 4) mirror RCB’s challenges this season. After spending 2024 with Lucknow Super Giants, Padikkal has returned to RCB and settled into the No. 3 spot.
Benefiting from clear role definition and off-season improvements to his T20 game, he’s shown better form away from home, with scores of 10, 27, 37, and 40 not out.
Glenn Maxwell (Punjab Kings)
Maxwell’s reunion with Ponting hasn’t lived up to expectations for PBKS. He has managed just 41 runs off 41 balls in five innings this season, with a high score of 30, continuing his poor form from IPL 2024.
During that season, he scored 52 runs off 43 balls across nine innings before being released by RCB. Maxwell has been dismissed by spinners in four of his five innings this year. However, his off-spin has been a bright spot for PBKS, taking four wickets at an economy rate of 8.46.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Punjab Kings: Prediction
Scenario 1
- Toss: Royal Challengers Bengaluru win the toss and bowl
- Powerplay Score: 55-65
- Punjab Kings: 200-210
- Match Result: Royal Challengers Bengaluru win the match
Scenario 2
- Toss: Punjab Kings win the toss and bowl
- Powerplay Score: 65-75
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru Total: 205-215
- Match Result: Punjab Kings win the match
When and Where To Watch Mumbai Indians vs Sunrisers Hyderabad LIVE? Broadcast and Streaming Details
The Indian Premier League 2025 clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings is set to begin at 7:30 PM IST on Friday, April 18, at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. The match will be broadcast live on the Star Sports network and will also be available for live streaming on JioHotstar for FREE.
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FAQs
What is RCB’s record at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in IPL 2025?
RCB have struggled at home this season, winning all their games on the road but facing back-to-back losses at Chinnaswamy.
Who are the key players for RCB in IPL 2025?
Key players for RCB include Glenn Maxwell, Josh Hazlewood, Phil Salt, and Rajat Patidar, with Maxwell looking to regain form after a slow start.
What is Punjab Kings’ powerplay performance in IPL 2025?
Punjab Kings have the highest powerplay run rate this season, averaging 11 runs per over, led by aggressive players like Priyansh Arya and Shreyas Iyer.
Who holds the most IPL wickets at Chinnaswamy Stadium?
Yuzvendra Chahal holds the record for the most IPL wickets at Chinnaswamy, with 52 wickets to his name.
What are the team changes expected for PBKS in their match against RCB?
PBKS may make changes due to Lockie Ferguson’s injury, and they could opt between Josh Inglis, Marcus Stoinis, or Glenn Maxwell depending on form.
