Cricket Prediction | RCB vs PBKS | Indian Premier League 2025 | 34th Match | April 18 – Can RCB Rise to Second Place by Taming the PBKS at Home?

RCB vs PBKS Match Analysis

An electrifying face-off awaits as Royal Challengers Bengaluru take on Punjab Kings at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Slated for the evening slot, the toss is set for 7:00 PM IST, with the first delivery at 7:30 PM.

RCB has finally found their rhythm mid-season and will be high on confidence after their clinical display in the previous match. With a well-balanced mix of experienced campaigners and young talent, the Bengaluru-based side is hitting form at the right time.

Punjab Kings have had an up-and-down season so far but showed great character in their last match to pull off a surprising win. With a squad filled with explosive all-rounders and a potent bowling attack, they have the tools to challenge any side.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Punjab Kings Team Preview & Squads

Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Rajat Patidar, leading RCB this season, has grown into his role with calmness and smart on-field decisions. While not the loudest leader, his performances with the bat and composure under pressure have helped shape the team’s resurgence.

RCB has a strong batting lineup, with Kohli and Padikkal providing some stability at the top, and Phil Salt bringing explosive energy, along with some serious power in the middle and death overs from Tim David and Liam Livingstone.

RCB has a mix of experience and variety in their bowling attack. Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar provided control and swing with the new ball, while Lungi Ngidi and Nuwan Thushara provided pace and aggression.

In their last match against Rajasthan Royals (28th Match at Jaipur), RCB pulled off a dominant win. RR posted 173/4, but RCB chased it down in style with 175/1 in just 17.3 overs. Phil Salt was explosive at the top, and Virat Kohli anchored the innings with composure. The 9-wicket win with 15 balls to spare highlighted RCB’s momentum and depth.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Squads

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Squads

Rajat Patidar (c), Abhinandan Singh, Jacob Bethell, Manoj Bhandage, Swastik Chikara, Tim David, Josh Hazlewood, Virat Kohli, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Liam Livingstone, Mohit Rathee, Lungi Ngidi, Devdutt Padikkal, Krunal Pandya, Rasikh Salam, Phil Salt (wk), Jitesh Sharma, Romario Shepherd, Suyash Sharma, Swapnil Singh, Nuwan Thushara, Yash Dayal

Punjab Kings

Shreyas Iyer may come to the PBKS captaincy job in a chilled state of mind, however, he will carry a heavy resolve to do the job well. Iyer is a key player because of his ability to build an innings and control the tempo of the innings in a chase.

Punjab’s batting unit is brimming with explosive options including Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, and Josh Inglis. Shreyas Iyer and Prabhsimran Singh provide a strong foundation, while players like Nehal Wadhera and Musheer Khan bring youthful energy.

The PBKS bowling attack is well-stocked with variety and experience. Arshdeep Singh and Lockie Ferguson offer pace and swing, while Yuzvendra Chahal and Harpreet Brar provide spin options. Marco Jansen and Azmatullah Omarzai add valuable all-round capabilities, making them a well-balanced unit.

In their previous meeting with Kolkata Knight Riders (31st match in Mohali), PBKS produced an incredible defence of a small total. After they posted a measly total of 111 runs, they bowled out KKR for 95 in 15. 1 overs, winning the match by 16 runs.

Punjab Kings Squads

Punjab Kings Squads

Shreyas Iyer (c), Arshdeep Singh, Priyansh Arya, Pyla Avinash, Azmatullah Omarzai, Xavier Bartlett, Yuzvendra Chahal, Praveen Dubey, Lockie Ferguson, Aaron Hardie, Harnoor Singh, Harpreet Brar, Josh Inglis (wk), Marco Jansen, Glenn Maxwell, Musheer Khan, Prabhsimran Singh, Kuldeep Sen, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Suryansh Shedge, Vishnu Vinod, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Nehal Wadhera, Yash Thakur.

RCB vs PBKS Outfield Report

M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru

The pitch at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium is known for its batting friendliness, which has short boundaries combined with a flat pitch creates high-scoring games. Once twilight converted into night, the ball usually comes on to the bat quite well on a lot of the turf.

The weather in Bengaluru on April 18 is expected to be clear with no rain forecast. Temperatures will hover around 29°C during the match, with moderate humidity. These are ideal conditions for a full and uninterrupted game.

Historically, the first innings average at this venue in IPL is around 180-190. Teams batting first often aim for 200+ to stay safe. However, with dew in the second innings, chasing becomes easier, and even 210 can be chased down with smart batting.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Punjab Kings Head-to-Head Stats of Last 5 Matches

In the last five encounters between these two sides, Royal Challengers Bengaluru have had the upper hand with 3 wins, while Punjab Kings have won 2.

RCB vs PBKS Prediction

According to cricket analysts Royal Challengers Bengaluru have a 53% chance of Winning.