🏏 Match Overview
The IPL 2025 season heats up as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) face Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Match No. 34 at Bengaluru’s iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Friday, April 18 at 7:30 PM IST.
Both teams are evenly poised on the points table with four wins and two losses each, but RCB have a slight edge due to a superior net run rate. With momentum on their side, both franchises will be eager to outclass the other in what promises to be a cracker of a contest.
📊 Match Details
| Match | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Punjab Kings, Match 34, IPL 2025 |
|---|---|
| Venue | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru |
| Date & Time | Friday, April 18, 2025 – 7:30 PM IST |
| Live Broadcast | JioStar Network Channels & JioHotstar (App & Website) |
🏟️ Pitch Report – M Chinnaswamy Stadium
The pitch at Chinnaswamy is traditionally a batting paradise. Both matches here this season have been convincingly won by teams chasing. With short boundaries and possible second-innings dew, expect a high-scoring encounter. Any team batting first will want to post 200+ to stay competitive.
🔁 Head-to-Head Record
| Stat | RCB | PBKS | Tied | No Result | Total Matches |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wins | 16 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 34 |
| First-ever Fixture | May 5, 2008 | ||||
| Most-recent Fixture | May 9, 2024 |
The rivalry between these two has been tight, with PBKS narrowly leading by a win.
🧢 Predicted Playing XIs
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
-
Players: Virat Kohli, Philip Salt, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (C), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal
-
Impact Player: Suyash Sharma
Punjab Kings (PBKS)
-
Players: Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Shreyas Iyer (C), Josh Inglis (WK), Nehal Wadhera, Glenn Maxwell, Shashank Singh, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal
-
Impact Player: Suryansh Shedge
🌟 Players to Watch
🔥 Best Batter – Phil Salt (RCB):
Salt has been explosive at the top, scoring 208 runs in 6 innings at a blazing strike rate of 185.72. He’s in red-hot form and key to RCB’s top-order momentum.🎯 Best Bowler – Yuzvendra Chahal (PBKS):
Chahal turned things around with a 4-wicket haul in the previous match and knows Chinnaswamy conditions well. Expect him to be crucial in the middle overs.🔮 Match Prediction
Considering the venue and past match trends at Chinnaswamy, the team bowling first is likely to have the upper hand. However, RCB’s current form and home advantage give them a slight edge.
🧠 Today’s Prediction: Team bowling first to win
💡 Bonus Insights & Expert Tips
Get the latest betting predictions, fantasy league picks, and expert analysis for this game and all IPL 2025 fixtures at CricketBettingTips.com.
