Bengaluru, April 18, 2025: The stakes are high and confidence even higher as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) lock horns in Match 34 of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium tonight. Both teams carry a 4-2 record heading into the halfway stage of the season, but the mood in each camp could not be more different.
While RCB are grappling with inconsistent home form and tricky surfaces, PBKS are riding a wave of belief after pulling off the lowest successful defence in IPL history, defending a mere 111 runs against defending champions Chennai Super Kings. A game after they failed to defend 245, this turnaround has given the side a morale-boosting jolt.
Speaking after that game, PBKS head coach Ricky Ponting called it a “season-defining moment.” That kind of conviction can easily tilt the scales in tight contests — and a clash at the traditionally high-scoring Chinnaswamy might just deliver another classic.
Venue and Weather:
Venue: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
Date & Time: April 18, 2025, 7:30 PM IST
Weather Forecast: Scattered showers expected during the evening. Unseasonal rains have hung around the city, though not heavy enough to threaten a full washout.
Form Guide & Head-to-Head:
RCB’s Home Struggles: The usually run-friendly Chinnaswamy pitch has not helped RCB much this season. They’ve failed to cross 170 in both home games so far, faltering to swing in one and spin in the other. Despite a line-up brimming with firepower, the surface has demanded patience — something this batting unit hasn’t always shown.
PBKS’ Belief Surge: PBKS, meanwhile, have turned a humiliating loss into an inspirational win. They may have a history of inconsistency, but the swagger is unmistakable this season, especially with big-hitters like Shreyas Iyer, Glenn Maxwell, and Marcus Stoinis in the ranks.
Head-to-Head Record: PBKS lead the rivalry 17-16, although RCB have won the last three encounters. This one could be the most balanced face-off in recent years.
Team News & Tactics:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Captain: Rajat Patidar
Unavailable: No fresh injury concerns
Key Player to Watch: Glenn Maxwell – returning to play against his former team in familiar territory might spark a return to form. But watch for Krunal Pandya, who has dismissed Maxwell five times in IPL.
Probable XI: Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Suyash Sharma.
Punjab Kings
Captain: Shreyas Iyer
Unavailable: Lockie Ferguson (hip injury – out of IPL 2025)
Key Player to Watch: Yuzvendra Chahal – the highest wicket-taker in IPL history, and especially lethal at this venue.
Probable XI: Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Shreyas Iyer (c), Nehal Wadhera, Josh Inglis (wk)/Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Shashank Singh, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Vijaykumar Vyshak/Yash Thakur.
Player Stats & Fun Facts:
Phil Salt leads the PowerPlay charts this season with a strike-rate of 193.61, including 11 sixes.
Yuzvendra Chahal has eight 4-wicket hauls in IPL, tying Sunil Narine for the most.
Glenn Maxwell, despite his pedigree, averages just 6.64 across 10+ innings since 2024 — the lowest among 75 such players.
Chahal also has the most wickets by any bowler at the Chinnaswamy, making him a major threat on familiar ground.
This fixture has all the ingredients for a high-voltage contest — a ground known for sixes, teams loaded with batting firepower, and bowlers who know how to disrupt momentum. But with tricky conditions expected again, strategy might just trump muscle. Both captains will eye chasing, considering the 100% win rate for teams batting second at this venue in 2025.
MI vs SRH Live Streaming & Broadcast Info
MI vs SRH Live Telecast: Star Sports Network (Select channels with Hindi, English, regional language options)
MI vs SRH Live Streaming: JioCinema (free in India across all languages and devices)
