Punjab Kings’ graph has been see-sawing in the Indian Premier League’s 2025 season. Some days they cannot defend 245, and on others, they put in a historic defence with just 111 runs on board. Ricky Ponting’s squad has been a breath of fresh air for the Punjab fans who still yearn for their first title win. On Friday, PBKS will be up against Andy Flower’s RCB, who are yet to win a home game this season.
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru are oddly yet to win at home, despite keeping a hundred per cent track record away this season. Bengaluru have won in Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai, and Jaipur this season. In fact, those wins have been dominating as well, but things have not quite clicked at home yet.
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The team has played only two matches at home so far against Gujarat Titans and Delhi Capitals—games that they have lost in contrasting ways. Against GT, they were blown away by Jos Buttler’s aggressive 73* off 39, and against Delhi, RCB capitulated in front of KL Rahul despite being ahead in the game.
RCB would hope that changes after their last match, where they destroyed Rajasthan in tricky conditions at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. RCB batters Devdutt Padikkal and Phil Salt acknowledged the issue after the Rajasthan game and joked that it was about time they started winning at home.
“Getting four wins now away from home, it really feels great. Hopefully, we can continue this at home as well. To be honest, it is about time we start doing something there as well,” Padikkal said in a chat with Phil Salt after the match.
“We are actually playing some good cricket. I think in time we will win there as well,” Padikkal further added.
The Rajasthan win would have given RCB a lot of confidence, which might just be enough to tilt the scales for them this season.
“It is a matter of time. I don’t think that we have done badly there. We train there more than anyone else, we play there more than anyone else—it’s a matter of time that we get it right and give fans something to cheer about,” Phil Salt quipped after the match.
Can Punjab Punch a Hole in Chinnaswamy?
Punjab Kings have won some incredible games this season. They started their season hammering Gujarat Titans away from home, and in their last match, PBKS somehow gritted it out with the ball, despite capitulating with the bat at their home in Mullanpur.
Punjab have the arsenal to both bowl and bat well in the conditions of Chinnaswamy. If RCB put up a batting pitch, the Shreyas Iyer-led unit can rip them a new one. And if RCB put up a slow turner, like against Delhi Capitals, Punjab have Yuzvendra Chahal, who would be raring to go at the Chinnaswamy on Friday.
Not only Chahal, but Vijaykumar Vyshak would also have a chance at redemption on Friday. Discovered by RCB from the domestic leagues, Vyshak has a chance to deal damage to RCB, just like Mohammed Siraj did in RCB vs GT, RCB’s first home game of the season, back on April 2.
RCB vs PBKS: Head-to-Head
This tie is incredibly close with PBKS leading RCB 17-16 in the IPL. RCB have won the last three matches between the teams.
RCB vs PBKS: Team News
Glenn Maxwell’s form is the biggest concern for Punjab this season. Maxwell rediscovered his form while playing at RCB a few seasons back. He cannot hope for a better venue to get among some runs this season.
RCB vs PBKS: Predicted Playing XIs
RCB Predicted Playing XI
Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal
Impact Sub: Suyash Sharma
PBKS Predicted Playing XI
Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Shreyas Iyer (c), Nehal Wadhera, Josh Inglis (wk), Glenn Maxwell/Marcus Stoinis, Shashank Singh, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Yash Thakur
Impact Sub: Vijaykumar Vyshak
IPL 2025: Top Fantasy Picks
RCB
Virat Kohli
Phil Salt
Krunal Pandya
Josh Hazlewood
Rajat Patidar
PBKS
Shreyas Iyer
Marco Jansen
Yuzvendra Chahal
Arshdeep Singh
Vijaykumar Vyshak
RCB vs PBKS: Pitch and Weather Conditions
There are slight chances of rain in the build-up to the game. However, it is expected to remain clear during match hours. The pitches this season have not been consistent at all, but RCB might like their chances on a turf that might have a little bit of grass left on it.
