Preview: RCB are placed at No. 3 on the points table, while PBKS find themselves at No. 4. Both teams have four wins and two defeats after playing six games each. However, RCB’s net run rate is slightly better than PBKS’s. Both teams are coming into this clash on the back of significant wins. RCB chased down a 174-run target with nine wickets and 15 balls to spare against Rajasthan Royals in their last game in Jaipur. Phil Salt and Virat Kohli slammed half-centuries, while Devdutt Padikkal also played a good hand. Krunal Pandya was the best bowler on display for RCB as he finished with figures of 1/29 in his four overs.
Meanwhile, PBKS created history in their last game as they defended a 112-run target against defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders. This is the lowest score successfully defended in IPL history. Yuzvendra Chahal and Marco Jansen picked up four and three wickets, respectively.
Indian Premier League 2025, 34th Match, RCB vs PBKS
Venue: M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
Date & Time: Friday, April 18, 7:30 PM
Pitch Report: Chasing is the better option at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Both games this season at the iconic venue have been won by chasing teams comprehensively. Bowlers will have very little margin for error with the short boundaries at the venue. The dew could play a role in the second innings and make batting easier. A 200-plus total will be essential for the team which bats first.
PROBABLE PLAYING XI
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB): Virat Kohli, Philip Salt, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (C), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal.
Punjab Kings (PBKS): Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Shreyas Iyer (C), Josh Inglis (WK), Nehal Wadhera, Glenn Maxwell, Shashank Singh, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal.
