Punjab Kings Seek Comeback Against Struggling RCB in IPL 2025

NEW DELHI, India — Punjab Kings (PBKS) aim to solidify their playoff position in an important matchup against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh on Saturday. After a significant victory over RCB just two days ago, PBKS is riding high on confidence, while RCB is desperate to bounce back following consecutive losses.

PBKS currently sits in second place with five wins from eight matches. A win against RCB would further strengthen their chances of advancing to the playoffs. Conversely, RCB, who started the season strongly, now finds themselves slipping to fourth place after a disappointing loss. The team is looking to correct their course on a pitch that is expected to favor spin bowlers.

In their last encounter, PBKS demonstrated tactical superiority, with bowlers Marco Jansen and Yuzvendra Chahal leading the charge. They restricted RCB to just 95 runs in a rain-affected match, setting a formidable tone for the rematch. Arshdeep Singh’s early dismissal of star batsman Virat Kohli marked a significant shift in momentum.

Tim David’s resistance with an unbeaten 50 was not enough to salvage RCB’s batting order, which suffered a collapse after the opening overs. In contrast, Nehal Wadhera’s composed performance, scoring 33 runs off 19 balls, helped Punjab chase the target with 11 balls to spare.

RCB will need to quickly recover from this defeat, as their batting performance has recently come under scrutiny, particularly in the Powerplay. Issues have arisen around the form of players like Kohli and captain Rajat Patidar, as the team hopes for a stronger output from Tim David in the upcoming game.

The pitch at New Chandigarh is expected to offer slow and low conditions, making spinners Harpreet Brar and Chahal essential to Punjab’s strategy. RCB’s bowlers, including Suyash Sharma and Krunal Pandya, will also play crucial roles in their plan to counteract PBKS’s spin attack.

Both teams will consider the toss a pivotal moment, as conditions may dictate a preference for bowling first. Historically, spinners have excelled at this venue, creating an additional challenge for the batting team in the second innings.

The match is set for a warm and dry evening with temperatures around 34°C and no rain forecasted. Fans can catch the action live on Star Sports Network and through streaming on JioHotstar starting at 3:30 PM IST.