IPL 2025: RCB Playing XI vs PBKS- Match 34

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are entering their seventh IPL 2025 encounter against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) after a clinical nine-wicket victory over the Rajasthan Royals.

They started the campaign with two away defeats against Kolkata Knight Riders and the Chennai Super Kings before slipping at home to the Gujarat Titans. Their unbeaten run with four wins in visiting games has been phenomenal this season, besides the defeats at home.

RCB, at the third position with a net run rate of +0.672, will meet the Shreyas Iyer-led side at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on April 18, 2025.

IPL 2025: RCB Playing XI vs PBKS- Match 34

Openers- Virat Kohli and Phil Salt

Phil Salt has been one of the main reasons behind RCB getting aggressive starts in the powerplay. In the previous game, the England wicket-keeper batter smashed 65 runs in 33 balls at a strike rate of 196.97, thanks to five boundaries and six over boundaries.

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When Virat Kohli was struggling to time the ball at the beginning of the innings, Salt just looked to nail the ball to the boundary to put immense pressure on the opponents. Later in that afternoon's clash against the Royals, the former captain of the franchise remained unbeaten on 62 runs in 45 balls, thanks to four boundaries and a couple of sixes.

Kohli is the event’s fifth-leading run-getter of the season so far, with 248 runs at a strike rate of 143.85. Salt, on the other hand, has drilled 208 runs in six innings at a strike rate of around 150.

Middle order- Rajat Patidar (c), Devdutt Padikkal, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David

For the RCB management, the concern is around Devdutt Padikkal. The southpaw has been quite hot and cold with his form this season. But he gave a positive sign in the last game with a fabulous knock of 40 runs in 28 balls, thanks to five boundaries and one six at a strike rate of 142.86.

Rajat Patidar, the captain of the side, has led from the front. His field settings have been terrific for the side, with most of the balls falling into the hands of the fielders.

In the last game, he changed the bowlers beautifully to keep the pressure on the opposition side. With the bat, he has also continued his superb form with 186 runs at a strike rate of 161.73. Jitesh Sharma has done well in whatever opportunities he has had.

Liam Livingstone’s form could be a slight issue for the RCB side. The all-rounder hasn’t found his beast form with the bat yet in this event, but most importantly, he brings balance and firepower to the side, along with Tim David.

Bowlers- Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Suyash Sharma (Impact)

Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been the game-changer for RCB this season with the new ball. He has picked up crucial wickets inside the powerplay and hasn’t leaked runs so much to increase pressure on the opponents.

For a change, Patidar used Yash Dayal with the new ball from the other end rather than Josh Hazlewood, who came as the first change bowler in the innings. The Australian pacer has used his variations brilliantly in that fifth to eighth over zone.

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Krunal Pandya has used his pace and variations in the middle overs to become RCB’s second-leading wicket-taker in the IPL 2025, with eight scalps in six innings at an economy rate of 9.57. Suyash Sharma has bowled well in patches but needs to be more consistent with his performances.

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

Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Rajat Patidar (c), Devdutt Padikkal, Liam Livingstone, Tim David, Jitesh Sharma (wk.), Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal.

Impact Sub- Suyash Sharma.