Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have been dominant on the road in IPL 2025, winning all four of their away games. However, they are yet to register a single win at their home ground, the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. With two consecutive home defeats already, RCB now face the in-form Punjab Kings (PBKS) in a crucial clash where they must avoid a third straight loss at home.
In both previous losses at Chinnaswamy, a similar pattern was observed. RCB lost the toss, were asked to bat first, and struggled on slow, sluggish pitches—posting 169/8 and 163/7—which became easier to chase under the influence of evening dew. Despite tactical changes such as sending Phil Salt to attack early in the powerplay against Delhi Capitals, RCB fell short.
The team’s bowling unit, particularly their pacers, has also faced challenges at home. While Josh Hazlewood has been economical overall with nine wickets at 8.65, his performance at Chinnaswamy has dipped—just one wicket with an economy of 12.1.
On the other side, PBKS arrive in Bengaluru on a high, having defended the lowest total successfully in IPL history against Kolkata Knight Riders. Yuzvendra Chahal, Player of the Match in that game, has rediscovered form with a four-wicket haul. Chahal, who spent eight seasons with RCB, is also the highest wicket-taker at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in IPL history.
Team Standings and Momentum
Both RCB and PBKS have identical records—four wins from six matches—occupying the third and fourth spots respectively on the points table. A win here will take either side to 10 points, level with table-toppers Delhi Capitals, ahead of their reverse fixture on Sunday in New Chandigarh.
Form Guide:
- RCB: W L W L W
- PBKS: W L W L W
Squad Updates
RCB are expected to stick with their winning XI from their dominant nine-wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals.
RCB (probable XI):
- Phil Salt, 2. Virat Kohli, 3. Devdutt Padikkal, 4. Rajat Patidar (capt), 5. Liam Livingstone, 6. Jitesh Sharma (wk), 7. Tim David, 8. Krunal Pandya, 9. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10. Josh Hazlewood, 11. Yash Dayal, 12. Suyash Sharma
PBKS made a strategic call by playing Josh Inglis over Marcus Stoinis in their last match against KKR due to his proficiency against spin. Depending on pitch conditions, either Stoinis or Glenn Maxwell might be dropped.
PBKS (probable XI):
- Priyansh Arya, 2. Prabhsimran Singh, 3. Shreyas Iyer (capt), 4. Josh Inglis (wk), 5. Nehal Wadhera, 6. Glenn Maxwell / Marcus Stoinis, 7. Shashank Singh, 8. Marco Jansen, 9. Yuzvendra Chahal, 10. Xavier Bartlett, 11. Arshdeep Singh, 12. Suryansh Shedge
Players to Watch
Devdutt Padikkal:
Back at RCB and batting at No. 3, Padikkal has shown flashes of form with scores of 10, 27, 37, and 40* away from home. However, his home scores (1 and 4) mirror RCB’s overall struggles at the venue.
Glenn Maxwell:
His form slump continues with just 41 runs from 5 innings at a run-a-ball rate. Despite his poor batting form, his offspin has been effective—4 wickets at an economy of 8.46. The PBKS think tank faces a tough call on whether to persist with him or bring in Stoinis.
Key Stats and Insights
- Yuzvendra Chahal has taken 52 IPL wickets at the Chinnaswamy – the most by any bowler.
- PBKS boast the best powerplay run rate this season at 11.0. RCB are second at 10.4.
- Arshdeep Singh dismissed Phil Salt twice in the recent IND vs ENG T20I series.
- Hazlewood (5.4) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (6.2) lead the powerplay economy rates this season, contributing to RCB’s top dot-ball percentage of 50.9%.
Pitch and Conditions
Unlike previous years, Chinnaswamy hasn’t been a paradise for batters this season. The pitches have played slow due to high heat and low humidity. However, recent rainfall and cooler evenings may alter playing conditions, potentially assisting batters more.
Quotes Corner
Bhuvneshwar Kumar (RCB pacer):
“Actually, I haven’t used it. I forgot that I can use saliva. When I saw Starc yesterday, it reminded me. I’m not sure if it’ll help or not, but now that I remember, I’ll definitely try in the next match.”
Brad Haddin (PBKS Assistant Coach):
“It’s about clearing the head and executing. You’ve got to be brave to go deep in this tournament—and that’s the mindset we want the players to have.”
Also Read : PBKS vs KKR – IPL 2025: Chahal Stars as PBKS Defend 111
