PBKS vs RCB IPL 2025: As the race to the IPL 2025 playoffs heats up, Punjab Kings (PBKS) are set to host Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) once again — this time in Match 37 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh, at 3:30 PM IST. Just three days ago, PBKS emerged victorious in a rain-curtailed 14-over thriller in Bengaluru, and they’ll now aim to complete a season double over their southern rivals on home turf.
This encounter will also mark PBKS’ final home fixture in New Chandigarh before they shift base to Dharamsala, adding an extra layer of emotion and motivation for Shreyas Iyer’s men.
Punjab Kings Riding High on Form and Confidence
With five wins from seven games, PBKS have been one of the most consistent sides in the tournament so far. Their explosive starts, deep batting reserves, and a bowling attack that mixes pace and spin effectively have helped them tick most boxes.
A major boost has come in the form of Yuzvendra Chahal, who, after a quiet start, has stormed back with two brilliant performances — including his role in the historic defence of 111 runs against KKR at this very venue.
Harpreet Brar has also made a timely impact, especially with his favourable matchup against RCB’s right-hand-heavy batting line-up. His career record against Bengaluru now stands at 10 wickets in 7 games with an economy of just 7.71.
Despite the absence of Lockie Ferguson due to injury, PBKS have managed to keep their bowling unit disciplined, with Arshdeep Singh and Xavier Bartlett complementing Chahal and Brar well.
RCB: Invincibles on the Road, Struggling at Home
While RCB have failed to win a single match at home this season, Rajat Patidar’s men have been flawless on the road — registering iconic away victories in Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai. They’ll look to maintain that perfect away record and bounce back from their recent defeat to PBKS.
Phil Salt, the English dasher, has been a standout performer at the top of the order, often setting the tone with aggressive strokeplay. Virat Kohli, Patidar, and Tim David have offered solid support, while Liam Livingstone and Jitesh Sharma have chipped in with crucial cameos.
However, this is a team built on flamboyance, and they’ll need to temper their aggression on the spin-friendly and slightly sluggish surface in Mullanpur.
The bowling department, led by Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, has been effective with the new ball, but lacks a world-class spinner — a potential weakness that PBKS will look to exploit. Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma have done well in patches, but will face a stiffer test against Punjab’s power-packed lineup.
PBKS vs RCB Key Match-ups and Tactical Battles
- Shreyas Iyer vs Krunal Pandya: One of the most crucial battles to watch out for. While Iyer has an impressive strike rate of 186.79 against spin this season and hasn’t been dismissed even once in those conditions, he has struggled particularly against Krunal, managing just 41 runs in 46 balls at a strike rate of 89.13, falling once.
- Yuzvendra Chahal vs RHBs: Chahal has a fantastic economy of 8.19 and a bowling average of 21.16 against right-handers since IPL 2024, making him a key weapon against the likes of Salt, Patidar, and Kohli.
- RCB’s weakness to short-of-length pace: They have lost 17 wickets to short-of-a-good-length deliveries — the most by any team this season — which PBKS pacers will look to exploit.
PBKS vs RCB Pitch and Conditions
This will be the first afternoon match at Mullanpur this season. Of the three games played here, two saw scores in excess of 200, while the last game witnessed the lowest successful defence in IPL history — indicating that the surface has something for everyone. Expect a batting-friendly pitch with grip for spinners and variation bowlers, making bowling tactics crucial in the middle overs.
PBKS vs RCB Head-to-Head and Team News
- Head-to-Head: PBKS lead the rivalry with 18 wins to RCB’s 16.
- Punjab Kings: Lockie Ferguson remains unavailable due to injury.
- RCB: No injury concerns reported.
PBKS vs RCB Probable XI
Punjab Kings: Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Shreyas Iyer (c), Nehal Wadhera, Josh Inglis (wk), Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Harpreet Brar, Xavier Bartlett, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Suyash Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal.\
PBKS vs RCB Live Streaming & Broadcast Info
PBKS vs RCB Live Telecast: Star Sports Network (Select channels with Hindi, English, regional language options)
PBKS vs RCB Live Streaming: JioCinema (free in India across all languages and devices)
Both teams enter this match with momentum and belief, but their contrasting fortunes — PBKS’ strong home form vs RCB’s perfect away record — set up a thrilling afternoon showdown. While PBKS appear more balanced and in rhythm, RCB’s away resilience makes them formidable. The outcome could hinge on which bowling unit adapts quicker to conditions and executes better under pressure.
