The 34th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 promises a thrilling contest as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) take on Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on April 18. Both teams have shown strong form this season, winning four of their six matches so far.
RCB come into this clash with momentum on their side, having registered a convincing win over the Rajasthan Royals. The opening duo of Phil Salt and Virat Kohli laid the foundation with a commanding partnership, setting up the match perfectly. Salt’s aggressive strokeplay combined with Kohli’s composure ensured their fourth win of the season.
Punjab Kings, on the other hand, have shown great character in tight games. Their recent victory over Kolkata Knight Riders was a testament to their grit, with Prabhsimran Singh giving them a solid start and spinner Yuzvendra Chahal delivering at the right moments with the ball.
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PBKS have matched RCB in the points tally, and this contest will be crucial for both sides to break ahead in the mid-table race. Historically, PBKS hold a narrow edge in their rivalry, with 17 wins in 33 encounters compared to RCB’s 16. With both sides evenly matched, fans can expect another high-octane clash at the Chinnaswamy.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
Glenn Maxwell has had a forgettable start to IPL 2025, but a return to familiar conditions and a clash against his former side could be the spark he needs to find form. However, standing in his way is Krunal Pandya—his nemesis in the IPL—who has dismissed Maxwell five times. Krunal’s knack for containment doesn’t end there; he’s also kept Shreyas Iyer and Marcus Stoinis quiet in previous encounters.
Probable XII: Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Suyash Sharma
Punjab Kings (PBKS)
Lockie Ferguson is unlikely to feature again this season after sustaining a suspected hip injury during the clash against SRH. On the spin front, Yuzvendra Chahal remains a major threat—especially at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, where he has long been a master of deception. The IPL’s all-time leading wicket-taker thrives at this venue, and with RCB loading their top order with right-handers, Chahal could be in for a feast. Sixteen of his last 24 wickets have been right-handers—he’s ready to weave his magic again.
Probable XII: Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Shreyas Iyer (c), Nehal Wadhera, Josh Inglis (wk)/Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Shashank Singh, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Vijaykumar Vyshak/Yash Thakur
Fantasy XI Suggestion 1:
Phil Salt (vc), Prabhsimran Singh, Shreyas Iyer, Virat Kohli (c), Rajat Patidar, Priyansh Arya, Glenn Maxwell, Krunal Pandya, Marco Jansen, Arshdeep Singh, Josh Hazlewood
Fantasy XI Suggestion 2:
Phil Salt, Shreyas Iyer (c), Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar(vc), Priyansh Arya, Glenn Maxwell, Krunal Pandya, Marco Jansen, Arshdeep Singh, Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar
