After a stunning comeback win over Kolkata Knight Riders in Mullanpur, Punjab Kings are riding high on momentum and confidence. Their next challenge awaits at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, where they will take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Thursday, April 18, at 7:30 PM IST.

With both teams locked at four wins each from six matches and separated only by net run rate, the clash promises to be a crucial one in the race for the playoffs. Both sides are heading into this match after registering morale-boosting victories.

What to Expect from the Pitch?

The surface at the Chinnaswamy Stadium has traditionally favoured batters. The average first-innings score in the last 10 matches at the venue stands at 171. Interestingly, teams chasing have had better success here, winning 60% of the time. Punjab Kings will likely look to bowl first if they win the toss, considering their strong bowling attack led by Arshdeep Singh, Marco Jansen, and Yuzvendra Chahal—who will aim to exploit any early movement or pressure moments.

Head-to-Head Battle

The historical rivalry between Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru remains tightly contested. Out of 33 T20 matches played, Punjab Kings hold a narrow lead with 17 wins compared to RCB’s 16. In the last five meetings, RCB have had the upper hand with three victories, while PBKS have won twice. However, Punjab’s overall record could give them a slight mental edge going into this contest.

Punjab Kings' Viewpoint

Punjab Kings will aim to carry forward the fearless approach that earned them a dramatic win against KKR. Captain Shreyas Iyer has led with composure, and the squad has shown solid depth across departments. The middle-order firepower and variety in the bowling line-up make them a tough unit to crack. A win here would not only strengthen their playoff hopes but also send a strong message to the rest of the league.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Squad:

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

Punjab Kings Squad:

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