Punjab Kings will look to halt a five-game losing skid when they entertain the table-topping Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a repeat of last season's IPL Final on Sunday.
RCB won that contest in Ahmedabad and remain in good shape to defend the IPL title after Wednesday’s win over Kolkata Knight Riders.
Virat Kohli answered his critics yet again with a superb unbeaten century as RCB kept pace with Gujarat Titans on 16 points.
However, PBKS have hit a roadblock after going undefeated through their first seven matches, including six wins.
Shreyas Iyer's men have lost to all of their main rivals in the last two and a half weeks and now need to win two of their three remaining games to stand any chance of a return to the playoffs.
With both teams capable of explosive batting and both bowling attacks prone to volatility, this clash in the foothills of the Himalayas promises to be some spectacle.
Punjab Kings v Royal Challengers Bengaluru Tips Summary
Best Bet - Virat Kohli over 34.5 runs @ 5/6
Alternative Bet - Royal Challengers Bengaluru to win @ 4/6
Bet Builder - Virat Kohli top RCB batter, Prabhsimran Singh 30+ runs & Josh Hazlewood 1+ wicket @ 13/2
Punjab Kings v Royal Challengers Bengaluru Prediction
Best Bet: Virat Kohli over 34.5 runs @ 5/6
Virat Kohli's response to back‑to‑back ducks was typically emphatic. The 37-year-old's match-winning century against KKR - his ninth in the IPL and the innings that took him past 14,000 T20 runs - was a masterclass in controlled aggression.
Kohli now looks to be back in complete rhythm again, and Dharamshala’s true bounce should suit his timing‑based game.
The HPCA Cricket Stadium is a ground he knows well and, after making a first-ball duck there in a 2013 ODI, he has made a series of big scores on one of the quicker Indian surfaces.
In three subsequent 50-over internationals he made scores of 127, 85 not out and 95.
Although he has only batted there twice in IPL, he averages 51.50 and he made 43 for India in a T20 international there on his only other white-ball knock at the ground.
Backing him to clear 30 runs feels like one of the safest angles on the board.
Alternative Bet: Royal Challengers Bengaluru to win @ 4/6
RCB's win over KKR was worth more than just two points, it was a statement to the rest of the IPL.
Their batting order looks settled, their bowling attack has found balance and their confidence is peaking at the right time.
They sit top of the table with eight wins from 12 and their decision to field both Josh Hazlewood and Jacob Duffy last time out paid dividends.
The Kings, meanwhile, continue to post big totals but fail to defend them. Their latest defeat - a six‑wicket loss to Mumbai despite scoring 200-8 - exposed familiar issues.
Their death‑overs bowling remains unreliable and their middle order has been blowing hot and cold with no consistency.
The visitors, who won all three of the teams' clashes last year, look the more reliable pick.
Punjab Kings v Royal Challengers Bengaluru Bet Builder
Virat Kohli top RCB batter
Prabhsimran Singh 30+ runs
Josh Hazlewood 1+ wicket
Pays 13/2
Kohli's enduring class make him the obvious choice to outscore his RCB team-mates.
Prabhsimran Singh has been one of PBKS' few consistent bright sparks. His 57 off 32 against MI showcased his clean hitting and ability to dominate the Powerplay.
With RCB's attack occasionally erratic early on, he is well‑placed to reach the 30-run mark.
Hazlewood, meanwhile, remains RCB's most reliable new‑ball operator. His bounce and accuracy troubled KKR and PBKS' top order has shown vulnerability against high‑quality seam.
One wicket for the Australian is a realistic inclusion.
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Key Match Stats
RCB have won eight of their last 12 matches
RCB have won their last three matches against PBKS
Kohli has scored nine IPL centuries, the most in tournament history
PBKS have posted eight 200+ totals this season, the most in IPL 2026
Prabhsimran Singh has four 50+ scores in his last seven innings
Hazlewood has taken a Powerplay wicket in four of his last six matches
PBKS have conceded 200+ runs in five of their last seven games
Tactics, Form & Team News
The Kings made two changes for the last game as Aussie duo Ben Dwarshuis and Marcus Stoinis made way for Azmatullah Omarzai and Xavier Bartlett.
Omarzai looks set to keep his place after a spell of 2-36 off four overs against Mumbai.
Expected PBKS XI: 1 Priyansh Arya, 2 Prabhsimran Singh (wk), 3 Shreyas Iyer ©, 4 Cooper Connolly, 5 Shashank Singh, 6 Suryansh Shedge, 7 Azmatullah Omarzai, 8 Vishnu Vinod, 9 Xavier Bartlett, 10 Yuzvendra Chahal, 11 Arshdeep Singh.
Jacob Bethell remains under pressure for his place after a series of uninspiring efforts and with Phil Salt due back from a finger injury soon.
They broke from their tradition of using one overseas quick against KKR, fielding both Hazlewood and Duffy, a move that may continue given Dharamshala's pace‑friendly conditions.
Expected RCB XI: 1 Virat Kohli, 2 Jacob Bethell, 3 Devdutt Padikkal, 4 Rajat Patidar (c), 5 Tim David, 6 Jitesh Sharma (wk), 7 Venkatesh Iyer, 8 Krunal Pandya, 9 Josh Hazlewood, 10 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 11 Jacob Duffy.
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
