Just three days after their last encounter, Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru face off again — this time in New Chandigarh. PBKS enter with momentum, having edged out RCB in a rain-hit game in Bengaluru. With five wins in seven games, they’ve built a solid campaign around powerful starts and a rejuvenated Yuzvendra Chahal.
RCB, however, boast a perfect away record this season — wins in Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai have highlighted their ability to thrive under pressure on the road. But with New Chandigarh’s surface offering turn and variable bounce, the absence of a top-tier spinner might again be their undoing — unless they adapt.
Here’s how RCB can turn the tide and level the head-to-head (currently 18-16 in favour of PBKS) in what promises to be a high-octane encounter.
1. Tackle the Spin Threat Head-On
The biggest hurdle for RCB is the Chahal-Brar duo. Harpreet Brar has been particularly effective against RCB, snaring 10 wickets in seven games at an economy of 7.71. Chahal’s revival has come at the right time for PBKS — he’s picked up six wickets in his last two games at a miserly 5.6 economy rate.
More crucially, since IPL 2024, Chahal’s numbers against right-handers are elite — 18 wickets from 279 deliveries at an economy of 8.19 and an average of 21.16. But against left-handers, he struggles, with an average of 46.37 and a costly economy of 11.07.
RCB’s spin playbook:
•Promote left-handers like Krunal Pandya or even demote Devdutt Padikkal at No. 4 to force matchups in their favour.
•Rotate strike early in the innings to break the rhythm of the spinners and avoid dot-ball pressure.
•Lean on Rajat Patidar — RCB’s best batter against spin this season (SR 182) — to take the attack to the tweakers.
2. Identify and Empower the Aggressors
RCB’s strength lies in knowing their attacking personnel and using them at the right time.
•Powerplay Aggressor: Phil Salt
•Middle-overs Aggressor (vs spin):Rajat Patidar
•Death-overs Finishers: Tim David and Jitesh Sharma
This means players like Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal should focus on anchoring and absorbing pressure. Their role isn’t to explode but to ensure the aggressors have freedom to express. RCB’s batting collapses have often stemmed from losing multiple wickets in clusters — protecting the pivots will keep the innings on track.
3. Time David’s Arrival to Perfection
Tim David’s numbers in the death are staggering — 22 sixes in overs 17–20 since IPL 2024, including 12 this season alone. His unbeaten 50 against PBKS recently showed he’s not just a finisher, but a match-winner.
Tactical insight:
RCB must ensure David walks in by the 15th over — regardless of who gets out. This allows him to settle in, read the pace and bounce, and then go berserk in the final 2–3 overs. Too often, he’s arrived too late with too much to do. Get the timing right, and he could be the game-changer.
1. Win Toss, Bat First – and Apply Scoreboard Pressure
PBKS’ opener Arya has two faces — destructive while batting first (SR 231, 208 runs in four innings), but meek in a chase (average 8, SR 114). It’s a trend RCB can exploit.
Winning formula:
•Win the toss, opt to bat, and build a strong total.
•Force PBKS into a chase — something their batting order hasn’t been comfortable with. Even in the last match they had lost 5 wickets chasing a paltry total.
•Use scoreboard pressure as a weapon, especially if the pitch offers two-paced bounce again.
RCB have shown they can travel well and thrive in hostile conditions. But PBKS at home, on a pitch that plays into their strengths, will be a different beast. For Bengaluru, it’s about calculated risks, smart matchups, and backing their game changers.
If Salt fires early, Patidar takes the attack to spin, and David gets his platform late — with smart bowling plans to back them — RCB can walk away with two crucial points and end PBKS’ home party.
In a season as tight as IPL 2025, tonight isn’t just about form — it’s about clarity of roles, execution, and seizing the big moments.