Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru 37th Match Preview & Prediction | IPL 2025

Match Information

• Match: Punjab Kings (PBKS) vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), 37th Match, Indian Premier League 2025
• Date: Sunday, April 20, 2025
• Time: 3:30 PM IST (Note: The user query states 7:00 PM, but based on standard IPL scheduling and web data consistency, it’s likely a day-night match starting at 3:30 PM IST.)
• Venue: Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, Chandigarh

Team Standings (IPL 2025 Points Table)

Team	Matches	Won	Lost	Tied	NR	Points	Net Run Rate (NRR)
DC	6	5	1	0	0	10	+0.744
PBKS	7	5	2	0	0	10	+0.308
GT	6	4	2	0	0	8	+1.081
RCB	7	4	3	0	0	8	+0.446
LSG	7	4	3	0	0	8	+0.086
KKR	7	3	4	0	0	6	+0.547
MI	7	3	4	0	0	6	+0.239
RR	7	2	5	0	0	4	-0.714
SRH	7	2	5	0	0	4	-1.217
CSK	7	2	5	0	0	4	-1.276

• PBKS: 2nd place, 10 points (5 wins, 2 losses), NRR +0.308
• RCB: 4th place, 8 points (4 wins, 3 losses), NRR +0.446

Recent Performance

Punjab Kings (PBKS)

• Form: L W L W W (3 wins in last 5 matches)
• Recent Matches:
  • April 18, 2025 vs RCB: Won by 5 wickets (with 11 balls remaining)
  • April 15, 2025 vs KKR: Won by 16 runs
  • April 12, 2025 vs SRH: Lost by 8 wickets
  • April 08, 2025 vs CSK: Won by 18 runs
  • April 05, 2025 vs RR: Lost by 50 runs

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)

• Form: L W L W L (2 wins in last 5 matches)
• Recent Matches:
  • April 18, 2025 vs PBKS: Lost by 5 wickets
  • April 13, 2025 vs RR: Won by 9 wickets (with 15 balls remaining)
  • April 10, 2025 vs DC: Lost by 6 wickets
  • April 07, 2025 vs MI: Won by 12 runs
  • April 02, 2025 vs GT: Lost by 8 wickets

Head-to-Head (Last 5 Matches)

Date	Result
April 18, 2025	PBKS won by 5 wickets (11 balls remaining)
Previous	RCB won by 60 runs
Previous	RCB won by 4 wickets (4 balls remaining)
Previous	RCB won by 24 runs
Previous	PBKS won by 54 runs

• Summary: RCB leads 3-2 in the last 5 encounters, but PBKS won the most recent match convincingly.

Squads

Punjab Kings (Key Players)

• Batting: Shreyas Iyer (c), Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Prabhsimran Singh
• Bowling: Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Lockie Ferguson
• Notable Performers: Prabhsimran Singh (276 runs in 10 matches), Arshdeep Singh (18 wickets this season)

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Key Players)

• Batting: Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar (c), Phil Salt, Liam Livingstone
• Bowling: Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal
• Notable Performers: Virat Kohli (670 runs in the last year), Yash Dayal (17 wickets this season)

Venue and Conditions

• Venue: Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, Chandigarh
• Pitch: Balanced, offering assistance to both batters and bowlers, with some spin support. The average first-innings score is approximately 174. Teams scoring above 170 have won 8 out of 9 T20 matches since 2023, while teams defending less than 170 have lost all 4 recorded matches.
• Weather: Expected to be warm and clear, with temperatures ranging from 30-35°C at the start (3:30 PM IST), cooling to the high 20s by the end. Minimal dew factor due to the afternoon start.

Match Preview

The 37th match of IPL 2025 pits Punjab Kings (PBKS) against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on April 20, 2025, at PBKS’s home ground in Mullanpur, Chandigarh. PBKS enters the contest in strong form, sitting second on the points table with 10 points from 7 matches and a recent record of three wins in their last five games. Their most notable recent achievement was a comfortable 5-wicket victory over RCB on April 18, 2025, chasing down a modest target with 11 balls to spare in a rain-shortened 14-over game.

RCB, positioned fourth with 8 points from 7 matches, has been inconsistent, managing only two wins in their last five outings. Despite a superior net run rate (+0.446 vs. PBKS’s +0.308), their recent loss to PBKS highlights vulnerabilities, particularly in defending totals.

The Mullanpur pitch is expected to provide a fair contest between bat and ball. With an average first-innings score of 174, the team batting first will aim to post a total above 170 to leverage historical trends favoring higher scores. PBKS’s batting firepower, led by Shreyas Iyer, Glenn Maxwell, and Marcus Stoinis, combined with their bowling strength in Yuzvendra Chahal and Arshdeep Singh, makes them a formidable unit at home. RCB counters with Virat Kohli’s consistency, Phil Salt’s aggression, and a potent bowling attack featuring Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

AI Simulation and Prediction

To predict the winner, an AI simulation considers the following factors:

1. Current Form:
   • PBKS: 3 wins in 5 matches, including a recent victory over RCB.
   • RCB: 2 wins in 5 matches, with inconsistency evident.
   • Edge: PBKS.
2. Points Table Position:
   • PBKS: 2nd (10 points, 5-2 record).
   • RCB: 4th (8 points, 4-3 record).
   • Edge: PBKS, though RCB’s higher NRR suggests competitiveness.
3. Head-to-Head Record:
   • RCB leads 3-2 in the last 5 matches, but PBKS won the latest encounter convincingly.
   • Edge: Slight tilt to PBKS due to recent momentum.
4. Venue Advantage:
   • PBKS plays at home in Mullanpur, where they’ve won 2 of their 3 matches this season (vs. CSK and KKR).
   • RCB’s away record is mixed (2 wins, 2 losses in recent away games).
   • Edge: PBKS.
5. Team Composition:
   • PBKS boasts a balanced squad with strong batting (Maxwell, Stoinis, Iyer) and bowling (Chahal, Arshdeep).
   • RCB relies heavily on Kohli and a disciplined bowling unit (Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar).
   • Edge: PBKS for balance, though RCB’s key players can shift the game.
6. Pitch and Conditions:
   • A balanced pitch favors both teams, but PBKS’s spin options (Chahal) could exploit any turn, while RCB’s pace attack (Hazlewood) suits the conditions.
   • Afternoon heat may tire bowlers, potentially favoring the chasing side, though historical data supports defending 170+.
   • Edge: Neutral, slight lean to PBKS due to familiarity.

Prediction

Based on the AI simulation factoring in form, home advantage, recent head-to-head result, and squad balance, Punjab Kings are favored to win this match. Their recent dominance over RCB, coupled with playing at Mullanpur, gives them a slight edge in a likely close contest. However, RCB’s experienced players, particularly Virat Kohli and Josh Hazlewood, ensure they remain a significant threat.

Predicted Winner: Punjab Kings (PBKS).