Match Preview Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will look to seal the top spot in the IPL 2025 points table when they clash against the in form Punjab Kings (PBKS), in an exciting clash. The match is scheduled to be played at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, on 18th April. Royal Challengers Bengaluru RCB absolutely outclassed Rajasthan Royals in their previous match with a commanding 9-wicket victory. Chasing a target of 174, their top three batters were on fire. Phil Salt set the tone with a blistering 65-run knock, taking the attack to the bowlers. After that, Virat Kohli (62)* and Devdutt Padikkal (40)* calmly finished the game in the 18th over without breaking a sweat. With this emphatic win, RCB now sit at 3rd place on the points table with 4 wins in 6 games. They'll be eyeing the top spot as they head into their next game with momentum on their side. . Punjab Kings Punjab Kings' last match was nothing short of an IPL classic. Defending a mere 112 runs, they stunned Kolkata Knight Riders by bowling them out for just 95, securing a thrilling 16-run victory. It was a masterclass in bowling from PBKS. At one point, KKR were cruising at 62/2, but Punjab staged an incredible comeback to bundle them out for 95. One of the most dramatic turnarounds this season. With this win, Punjab Kings now sit at 4th place, just like RCB, with 4 wins from 6 matches. Their upcoming clash is going to be intense — a win against RCB could take Punjab straight to the top of the table. Match Details RCB vs PBKS Match Details Venue M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru Date and Time 18 April, 7:30 PM IST Live Broadcast Details Star Sports Live Streaming Details JioHotstar (app and website) Pitch Report The surface at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru provides a good batting track for the teams. The average first innings score in last year's IPL was 183, and it helps pacer more on such wickets. Batters can easily play their shot, but they will need to settle down before the attacking. Teams who field first at this ground are likely to get some advantage as compared to teams who bat first. Head-to-Head Record H2H Records - RCB vs PBKS in IPL Total Matches 33 Won by Royal Challengers Bengaluru 16 Won by Punjab Kings 17 Tied 0 No Result 0 Probable Playing XI Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Philip Salt, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Jacob Bethell, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal. (Impact Subs: Suyash Sharma, Swastik Chikara, Swapnil Singh, Rasikh Salam, Romario Shepherd) Punjab Kings: Shreyas Iyer (c), Prabhsimran Singh, Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis, Shashank Singh, Marco Jansen, Nehal Wadhera, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Xavier Bartlett, Priyansh Arya. (Impact Subs: Harpreet Brar, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Suryansh Shedge, Harnoor Singh) Toss Prediction Historical Toss-Winning Stats at the Venue In the last five matches at this venue, the toss-winning teams had decided to bowl on all five occasions. Advantages of Bowling First on This Pitch Out of 96 IPL matches played at this venue, the batting first teams have registered 41 wins to their name, while the fielding first sides have registered 51 victories. By looking at the recent stats at this venue, it will be fair to say that fielding first teams have more advantage as compared to batting first. Match Scenario Scenario 1 Toss Winner: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (opts to bowl first) Power-Play Score: 60-65 PBKS Total: 195-210 Match Winner: Royal Challengers Bengaluru Scenario 2 Toss Winner: Punjab Kings (opts to bowl first) Power-Play Score: 50-60 RCB Total: 190-205 Match Winner: Punjab Kings Who will win the match between RCB vs PBKS? RCB and PBKS are neck and neck this season — both teams have followed the exact same pattern so far: win two, lose one, win one, lose one, win one. It’s been a back-and-forth ride for both sides. While it’s tough to pick a clear favorite, the confidence PBKS would’ve gained after defending just 112 against a strong KKR side is immense. That epic win might just give them the slight edge going into this crucial clash