IPL Playoffs: Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru - Preview

Punjab Kings take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL playoffs. Get the latest cricket news, team previews, and predictions.

Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, two franchises without an IPL title, are eager to break their droughts. Both teams have shown potential but struggle with consistency. Punjab Kings have a talented squad with match-winners throughout their lineup, including Shikhar Dhawan, Rilee Rossouw, Jonny Bairstow, Jitesh Sharma, and Liam Livingstone.

Their season hasn't been without challenges, though. Punjab's spinners have taken the fewest wickets in the league, with Rahul Chahar struggling to find form. The team's batting lineup is also volatile, with a tendency to lose wickets frequently despite having powerful hitters. The absence of proven Indian finishers has added to their concerns.

Key Factors for Punjab Kings:

• Presence of match-winners: Players like Arshdeep Singh, Kagiso Rabada, and Sam Curran can single-handedly win matches.
• Spinner's form: Chahar's wicket-taking ability will significantly influence Punjab's season.
• Batting consistency: The team's ability to maintain wickets while scoring boundaries will be crucial.

RCB's journey also hinges on key player performances. With a strong squad, they'll look to overcome their title drought. Both teams have similar points and Net Run Rates but have experienced different seasons.

What to Watch Out For:

• RCB's strategy: How will they adapt to the changing game dynamics?
• Punjab's team balance: Can they find the right balance between batting and bowling to clinch the title? 

The Punjab Kings are riding high on form as they enter the playoffs, boasting a strong batting lineup, a diverse pace attack, and the experience of last year's title-winning team. After a long gap since 2014, they're looking to make a deep run, and home support in Mullanpur could be a significant boost.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru, on the other hand, have often relied on dramatic comebacks to secure wins, though their squad has shown unity in performances. Having the advantage of a double chance in the playoffs could be crucial, especially after featuring in four Eliminators in the last five years. They'll need to tap into their resilient spirit to make a strong playoff run.

Why Punjab Kings Can Win

Punjab Kings' batting strength is the backbone of their success. With flexibility to play impactful players like Marcus Stoinis at different positions, they've built a formidable lineup. Their uncapped Indian talent, including standout performances from Priyansh Arya and consistent growth from Prabhsimran Singh, has been instrumental. The lower order, bolstered by Nehal Wadhera and Shashank Singh, adds significant firepower to their batting.

Punjab Kings' Strengths and Challenges

Shreyas Iyer has thrived alongside young talent, leading Punjab Kings to the playoffs for the third time with a new franchise, following his previous playoff appearances with Delhi and Kolkata. The team's model focuses on aggressive scoring, which compensates for some weaknesses in their bowling. However, they face a challenge with Marco Jansen's absence, which could be addressed by either Xavier Bartlett, who would impact batting, or Azmatullah Omarzai, who would affect bowling. Recent performances from Kyle Jamieson and Vijaykumar Vyshak have been mixed, with Jamieson conceding 10.50 in his first game and Vyshak being expensive despite taking two wickets.

Punjab Kings have faced challenges in Mullanpur, suffering losses against Rajasthan and RCB, where they struggled to chase down 206 and posted a modest 157, respectively. Despite these setbacks, they've shown resilience, such as winning against Kolkata despite a batting failure. The opposition will likely take note of their struggles in Mullanpur. Additionally, they'll need to adapt to playing three consecutive games in Jaipur's larger stadium, which could impact their strategy and performance.

Why Royal Challengers Bengaluru Can Win

RCB's ability to win from behind has been a defining trait, as seen in their match against Lucknow where they overcame adversity to secure the win. This pattern of different players stepping up at crucial times has been consistent throughout the tournament. Their squad depth has allowed backup players to seamlessly integrate and perform. Although the short turnaround might pose a slight challenge, RCB has managed similar situations effectively this season. With Josh Hazlewood fit and ready, RCB faces selection decisions, particularly around including both Hazlewood and Nuwan Thushara, which might require dropping Liam Livingstone if he's not in form.

Venue and Conditions

Mullanpur's pitch characteristics are uncertain after a month without hosting a game. However, based on previous matches, it might not favor low-scoring games. The ground has seen varied outcomes, with two high-scoring matches where 200+ was defended, a low-scoring thriller between KKR and PBKS, and a successful chase by RCB. Weather conditions are expected to be favorable.

Punjab’s local heroes deliver in style for PBKS in IPL 2025.#PunjabKings #IPL2025 #CricTracker pic.twitter.com/E6jytBafI3

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) May 28, 2025

Match Stats

Some notable stats ahead of the match include Punjab Kings recording the highest opening partnership in just five games this season. Royal Challengers Bengaluru have achieved a record with ten different half-centurions this season, surpassing Mumbai Indians' record in 2017. Additionally, all ten bowlers used by RCB have taken at least one wicket. Punjab Kings have seen an exceptional batting season with Shreyas Iyer scoring 514 runs, Prabhsimran Singh with 499, and Priyansh Arya with 424, marking the first time they've had multiple players score over 400 runs in a single season.

Punjab Kings have a strong batting lineup, with seven batters scoring over 100 runs at averages above 30 and strike rates over 149. Virat Kohli has set new records, including eight 50+ scores in wins this season and reaching 600 runs for the fifth time. Meanwhile, Phil Salt has struggled against Arshdeep Singh, scoring 28 runs off 32 balls and being dismissed five times.