IPL 2025: PBKS Playing XI vs RCB- Match 34

The Punjab Kings (PBKS) are coming off a fairytale comeback in the previous encounter against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Chandigarh. They defended the lowest-ever total of the league’s history by 16 runs to bundle out the defending champions on 95 in 15.1 overs.

Punjab has done well in their first six group-stage fixtures with four victories and two defeats to be in the fourth position of the points table with a net run rate of +0.172. Their previous win will boost their confidence so much going forward in the competition.

PBKS will meet the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) next at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on April 18, 2025. The winners of the clash will go further towards the playoff spot.

IPL 2025: PBKS Playing XI vs RCB- Match 34

Openers- Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh

Both the openers provided PBKS a fabulous start in the innings with an opening stand of 39 runs in 3.2 overs. It’s hard to believe how they lost all 10 wickets from that point for just 72 runs in 12.1 overs.

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Priyansh Arya, who celebrated his maiden IPL century against the Chennai Super Kings in Mullanpur, began in the same firing fashion with 22 runs in 12 balls, shouldering on three boundaries and one six at a strike rate of 183.33.

Prabhsimran Singh blasted 30 runs in 15 deliveries, thanks to two fours and three sixes. But both the batters were dismissed on bad deliveries, having timed the short ball straight into the hands of the fielders. It will be vital for them to continue the same aggression for PBKS against Bengaluru, but with a better application in shot selection.

Middle order- Shreyas Iyer (c), Josh Inglis (wk), Nehal Wadhera, Glenn Maxwell, Shashank Singh

Shreyas Iyer, the PBKS captain, continued his poor form in Mullanpur this season. In the previous game, his stay continued only for two balls. The right-handed batter missed the first short ball before smashing it straight into the hands of the backward point fielder.

The management, especially the head coach Ricky Ponting, took a tough decision of leaving Marcus Stoinis for Josh Inglis, who returned with two runs in six balls. Neither Nehal Wadhera nor Glenn Maxwell could do anything in that phase.

PBKS, due to being restricted at 76/6 in the 10th over, brought Suyansh Shedge as their impact player. But that didn’t make any difference yet. The longest partnership, apart from the opening wicket, for the franchise was just 23 runs for the penultimate wicket. This is where they will need to improve for the new edition.

Bowlers- Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Vijaykumar Vyshak (Impact)

Marco Jansen shared the new ball with Xavier Bartlett in this game before Arshdeep Singh came as the first-change pacer. The left-arm bowler ended with figures of 3/17 in 3.1 overs, while the Indian pacer returned with 1/11 in three overs, including the vital 15th maiden over.

But the biggest relief for the management is Yuzvendra Chahal, the Indian leg-spinner, who won the Player of the Match award for his brilliance of 4/28 in four overs. Maxwell also chipped in with the vital wicket of Venkatesh Iyer to have 1/5 in two overs for PBKS.

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The question will be whether the management wants to bring back Stoinis for the game or retain the same playing eleven.

PBKS Predicted Playing XI vs RCB- IPL 2025, Match 34

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 Sub- Vijaykumar Vyshak.