Welcome to RCB vs PBKS live coverage! After 36 exciting matches, it’s time for match number 37th of the 18th edition of the Indian Premier League, which will be played between two of the top performers of the IPL 2025, Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. In the seven matches played, RCB lost two of them, while Punjab registered five victories in their seven matches.
PBKS 49/1 in 5 Overs – Krunal Strikes, Arya Falls!
Krunal Pandya breaks the opening stand with a smartly bowled delivery to Arya, who tries to slog across the line but mistimes it to mid-off. A well-timed four from Prabhsimran keeps the scoreboard ticking, but RCB will be happy with the breakthrough. Shreyas Iyer has joined Prabhsimran at the crease.
PBKS 41/0 in 4 Overs – Arya Keeps the Momentum Going!
Priyansh Arya is turning it on again! Two boundaries in the over–one lofted with intent and the other placed smartly to sweeper cover. Hazlewood tried his variations, but Arya looked confident despite a couple of mistimed pulls. PBKS’s openers continue to build a solid platform!
PBKS 31/0 in 3 Overs – Prabhsimran Turns On the Style!
Prabhsimran Singh is finding the gaps beautifully! Three crisp boundaries in the over, all with smart footwork and timing. Bhuvneshwar tried to keep it tight, but Prabhsimran’s creativity and fearless approach stole the show. Punjab off to a flying start with 31 on the board after just 3 overs!
PBKS 19/0 in 2 Overs – Priyansh Goes Big, Dayal Under Pressure!
A fiery over for Punjab Kings as Priyansh Arya unleashes! He smacks a six and two boundaries, showing intent and finding his timing perfectly. Prabhsimran chips in with a lucky edge for four. Yash Dayal’s first over proves expensive, conceding 17. The pitch may be slow, but PBKS’s start is brisk!
PBKS 2/0 in 1 Over – Bhuvneshwar Starts Tight!
A tidy start from the experienced Bhuvneshwar Kumar! Just 2 runs off the first over, with sharp line and clever variations keeping Priyansh Arya in check. A couple of field changes kept things interesting, and both Arya and Prabhsimran are taking their time to settle in. PBKS will be hoping to build a solid platform from here.
PBKS vs RCB: Key Player Battles
| Battle | Innings | Runs | Balls | SR | Dismissals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Devdutt Padikkal vs Arshdeep Singh | 6 | 49 | 32 | 153.12 | 3 |
| Prabhsimran Singh vs Bhuvneshwar Kumar | 6 | 46 | 28 | 164.28 | 3 |
| Virat Kohli vs Harpeet Brar | 6 | 62 | 55 | 112.72 | 2 |
| Jitesh Sharma vs Yuzvendra Chahal | 6 | 40 | 33 | 121.21 | 3 |
| Shreyas Iyer vs Josh Hazlewood | 4 | 5 | 16 | 31.25 | 3 |
Teams:
Punjab Kings (Playing XI): Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya, Shreyas Iyer(c), Josh Inglis(w), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Playing XI): Philip Salt, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar(c), Jitesh Sharma(w), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Suyash Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal
Punjab Kings Impact Subs: Harpreet Brar, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Suryansh Shedge, Glenn Maxwell, Praveen Dubey
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Impact Subs: Devdutt Padikkal, Rasikh Dar Salam, Manoj Bhandage, Jacob Bethell, Swapnil Singh
Royal Challengers Bengaluru have won the toss and have opted to field
Iyer: We also wanted to bowl. At the end of the day you always have to adapt according to the situation. Important to give ourselves some time, see how the ball is moving. It’s the first afternoon game for us. Hopefully we get a good total on the board. The support we got, especially in the last game in this stadium, was outstanding. Same team.
Patidar: We’re going to bowl first. Wicket looks decent, won’t change much. Batting second will give more clarity about the game and the wicket. We’re not looking at venues, just trying to play good cricket. Shepherd comes in for Livi.
Pitch Report by Varun Aaron and Graeme Swann:
One side of the ground has a short boundary at 63 meters, while the opposite side stretches to 70 meters. Straight down the ground measures 76 meters. There’s a noticeable breeze blowing in that direction as well. The pitch being used is wicket number three — the same one from the high-scoring PBKS vs CSK game that saw 420 runs scored. Although there are some cracks visible, a healthy covering of grass should hold the surface together nicely. Overall, it looks like a solid batting track with good pace and bounce, likely to favor the batters.
Team News:
Punjab Kings
Injury and Availability: Lockie Ferguson continues to be out with injury and is likely to be ruled out of the remainder of this season.
Probable XII: 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.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Injury and availability: No injuries or availability concerns have been reported.
Probable XII: 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.
ALSO READ: RCB qualification scenarios: Patidar’s Men Struggle at Home, Face Crunch Time in IPL 2025
