Cricholic
Kings are on a roll in IPL 2025 with five wins in seven games. They now aim to complete a double over Royal Challengers Bengaluru, having already beaten them in a rain-affected encounter in Bengaluru. That victory came in a 14-over game, where Kings adapted better to the sticky conditions.
Their form is no fluke. Kings have consistently delivered in all departments. With aggressive PowerPlay batting, depth in the middle order, and a smart bowling unit, they look like a playoff-bound side. In addition, their bowlers, especially Yuzvendra Chahal, have found their rhythm at the right time. After a quiet start to the season, Chahal bounced back with key performances, including a match-winning spell while defending just 111 runs at this very venue against KKR.
📍 Final Home Game for Punjab Kings at New Chandigarh | April 21, 3:30 PM IST
🔥 PBKS Key Performers to Watch
Moreover, PBKS have found heroes across the board:
- Yuzvendra Chahal – Sparkling form with key wickets
- Shreyas Iyer – Consistent and calm under pressure
- Harpreet Brar – Proven RCB specialist
As head coach Ricky Ponting said, the team is brimming with belief. Therefore, they’ll look to carry that confidence into their final home game in Mullanpur.
🛡️ RCB’s Unbeaten Run on the Road
RCB, on the other hand, are still unbeaten away from home. While their record in Bengaluru has been dismal with three losses, they’ve compensated by winning in tough venues like Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai.
Phil Salt has been a game-changer at the top, while Rajat Patidar, Virat Kohli, and Tim David have chipped in with valuable runs. Meanwhile, the bowling unit—led by Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar—has provided early breakthroughs regularly.
However, spin remains a weak link for RCB. Therefore, their bowlers will need to find ways to adapt to the spin-friendly surface in Mullanpur.
🧠 Tactics and Key Matchups for Kings
🔴 Kings Spin Strategy vs RCB’s Right-Handers
Kings will look to exploit RCB’s right-hand dominant batting line-up. For instance:
- Yuzvendra Chahal – 18 wickets vs RHBs since 2024 (eco: 8.19)
- Harpreet Brar – 10 wickets in 7 matches vs RCB (eco: 7.71)
Both spinners can slow down RCB’s momentum, especially in the middle overs.
🟡 RCB’s Plan Against Kings Skipper Iyer
RCB will try to target Shreyas Iyer with Krunal Pandya, who has a favorable match-up. Although Iyer has scored freely against other spinners, he strikes at just 89.13 against Krunal, and has only managed 41 runs off 46 balls against him.
🏟️ Kings in Mullanpur – Pitch & Conditions
This will be the first afternoon match at this venue in IPL 2025. In previous games, teams batting first have twice scored over 200. However, the last fixture saw the lowest total ever defended in IPL history—even though the pitch didn’t seem that tricky.
Therefore, expect a surface that rewards smart bowling and calculated batting. Change-of-pace and spin bowlers could be crucial once again.
📊 PBKS vs RCB: Head-to-Head Record
| Team | Wins |
|---|---|
| Punjab Kings | 18 |
| RCB | 16 |
Notably, Kings have a narrow edge in the head-to-head record, which could give them a psychological advantage.
🏏 Probable XIs – PBKS vs RCB
🔴 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
🚑 Lockie Ferguson is still out due to injury.
🟡 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
✅ No injury concerns reported.
📈 Kings in the Spotlight – Key Stats
- Shreyas Iyer – Best strike rate vs spin (186.79) with zero dismissals
- Chahal vs LHBs – Expensive at 11.07 RPO, avg: 46.37
- RCB – Lost most wickets (17) to short balls in IPL 2025
As a result, short-ball execution could be a game-defining factor.
🎙️ Quotes from Camp
Marco Jansen (PBKS):
“I enjoy the challenge in any phase. The team knows our roles, and that brings clarity.”
Rajat Patidar (RCB):
“We’re bowling well. If the batters find consistency, we’ll be tough to beat.”
