𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇 : Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄 : May 29,Thursday 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 : 19:30 PM IST 𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐔𝐄 : Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Cricket Stadium, Chandigarh, India 𝐓𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 : Indian Premier League, 2025 The last time these two sides met in IPL 2025, Royal Challengers Bengaluru registered an emphatic 7-wicket win against Punjab Kings. Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru TV channels: The fans can watch the match live on Hotstar Live Streaming: Live streaming of the match will be available on the FAFA191 Cricket Exchange India and website. PBKS vs RCB Match Prediction & Analysis It’s playoff time in IPL 2025, and the first big clash is set—Punjab Kings (PKBS) take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Qualifier 1 this Thursday at Mullanpur. Both teams finished at the top of the table in the group stage, and the winner here will head straight to the final on June 3. The losing side won’t be out just yet—they’ll go on to play the Eliminator winner in Qualifier 2 at Ahmedabad, with a second chance to reach the final. The final stretch of IPL 2025 is shaping up to be intense. TEAMS PREVIEW Punjab Kings Preview Punjab Kings have been steady all season, grinding out nine wins from 14 matches to finish on top of the standoings. This is their best run since 2014, the last time they reached the finals. Fans will be hoping they can finally take it all the way this time. Punjab have got the pieces to make that happen, and they’ve used them well throughout the tournament. Their batting unit runs deep, and different players have stepped up when needed. Prabhsimran Singh (499 runs in 14 innings) and Priyansh Arya (424 runs in 14 innings) have been a reliable opening pair, setting the tone early. Punjab will be counting on at least one of them to get going again. Shreyas Iyer has held the middle together with poise, scoring 514 runs from 14 matches at a strike rate of 172. He’s been steady when things get tense and will be central to their plans again. Nehal Wadhera hasn’t put up huge scores, but his quickfire knocks at a strike rate around 153 have made a difference in tight spots. Marcus Stoinis and Josh Inglis have been handy contributors too. Stoinis has been used at the back end to finish things off, while Inglis has slotted in at number three or four, playing with urgency. His 73 off 42 against Mumbai was a standout and showed his ability to turn the momentum of a game quickly. Shashank Singh has also stood up late in matches, keeping calm under pressure and closing out a few tough games. One major setback is the absence of Marco Jansen, who won’t be around for the playoffs due to national commitments. That puts the spotlight on Kyle Jamieson. He’s had issues with conceding too many runs, but now he’ll have to step up and take more control. Yuzvendra Chahal could be back after missing the last two games with a minor injury. His return would bring experience and the ability to break partnerships when it matters most. If Chahal gets into rhythm alongside Arshdeep and Harpreet Brar, Punjab will have a real chance to punch through in Qualifier 1. Royal Challengers Bengaluru Preview RCB have looked terrific all season and wrapped up their group stage with a statement win—chasing down 228 against Lucknow Super Giants, the third-biggest chase ever pulled off in the IPL. That win helped them secure a top-two finish, which will now give them two shots to reach the final. Their batting and bowling units have both held up well. Virat Kohli has done the heavy lifting with the bat, scoring 602 runs in 14 innings at an average of 60.20 and a strike rate of 148. He’s notched up eight fifties, including one in the last game, and continues to look dependable. Phil Salt hasn’t stacked up huge scores, but he gets off the blocks fast and usually gives the innings early momentum. Skipper Rajat Patidar, dealing with fitness issues in recent games, has still managed 271 runs in 12 innings at a strike rate of 140.41, contributing in key moments. RCB have also had fresh faces step up, with Mayank Agarawal and Jitesh Sharma turning heads recently. Mayank has chipped in with some quickfire cameos to keep things ticking in the middle-order, while Jitesh came through big time in the last match against LSG, hammering 85* off 33 balls to seal that mammoth chase. Down the order, they’ll be leaning on Romario Shepherd and Tim David for power late in the innings. David, expected to return for the playoffs after a short injury layoff, could be critical in the final stretch. RCB are also bolstered by the return of Josh Hazlewood, who’s been the most dependable name with the ball this season—snagging 18 wickets in 10 games. Add in the experience of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Krunal Pandya, and there’s depth in the attack. The concern will be around Yash Dayal and Suyash Sharma, who’ve been on the receiving end too often and may be vulnerable under pressure. Weather Conditions The surface at Mullanpur is well-suited for T20 cricket. Batters who get their eye in early should be able to put up a good score. Seamers could get some early swing with the new ball, while spinners might find the pitch helpful once the powerplay is done. Chandigarh’s forecast points to a dry, hot day with zero threat of rain. That means we’re in for a complete game. PBKS vs RCB Pitch Report The average score batting first at Mullanpur in the IPL is 170. Punjab Kings hold the top score at this venue so far—219 for 6 against Chennai Super Kings earlier in the season. The surface has generally offered a lot to batters, so another high-scoring match is likely. Both teams will be eyeing 210 as a total that gives them breathing room. Toss: To Bat Three of the four matches played at…
