Chandigarh: Punjab Kings enter their Sunday clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru with momentum and a psychological edge, having secured a five-wicket in a 14 overs a side match due to rain earlier this week.
As the Indian Premier League 2025 enters its business end, the 37th match at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium promises a high-voltage contest between a team on the rise and another grappling with form and consistency.
The win over RCB was Punjab's fifth in seven matches this season, taking them to second place in the points table and reinforcing their playoff credentials. In contrast, Bengaluru have stumbled, losing two of their last three games and slipping into a mid-table scramble. With just four wins so far, RCB's margin for error is narrowing fast.
Under Shreyas Iyer's leadership, Punjab have shed their tag of perennial underachievers. The team has found stability in both departments, with openers Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya providing strong starts, while the middle order, anchored by Iyer, Josh Inglis and Nehal Wadhera, has ensured depth and adaptability. Marcus Stoinis and Shashank Singh have contributed in pressure situations, giving the batting lineup both muscle and maturity.
In the bowling department, Punjab have been clinical. Arshdeep Singh and Xavier Bartlett have struck early blows with the new ball, while Marco Jansen and Yuzvendra Chahal have provided crucial breakthroughs in the middle overs. The trio combined for six wickets in the last outing against Bengaluru, restricting them to 95. Punjab will look to repeat the dose on a surface that has favoured teams batting first.
Rajat Patidar and his men face mounting pressure. The last defeat was particularly humbling, with the star-studded lineup failing to withstand disciplined bowling. Despite flashes of brilliance from Tim David and Josh Hazlewood, Bengaluru's overdependence on Virat Kohli and Philip Salt at the top has left them vulnerable when early wickets fall.
The middle order, comprising Padikkal, Livingstone and Jitesh Sharma, must shoulder more responsibility, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Yash Dayal need to find early breakthroughs to keep Punjab in check. Hazlewood's three-wicket haul in the previous game was a rare bright spot in an otherwise faltering campaign.
This will be the fourth IPL fixture at the newly built Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur. All three previous games have seen the team batting first defend successfully. The pitch offers good bounce early on but tends to slow down in the second half, making chasing difficult under lights.
Weather in Chandigarh is expected to be dry with temperatures hovering around 32–34°C during the match hours. There is no forecast of rain, and humidity levels will be moderate.
With all results at the venue favouring teams batting first, both captains are likely to opt for the same if they win the toss. Punjab, with a stronger bowling attack and recent experience of defending totals, will relish the opportunity.
Punjab go into the match with momentum, depth and home advantage. Bengaluru, in contrast, are desperate for a turnaround. If their top order fails again, Punjab's varied bowling attack could exploit the vulnerabilities. On form and recent history, Punjab hold the edge.