PBKS vs RCB Match Prediction: Virat Kohli holds the key as visitors look for revenge after collapse at home, check head-to-head and other stats

For the first time, Punjab Kings (PBKS) will take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at their new homeground, Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, Chandigarh. Less than 48 hours after the rain-hit low-scoring affair, PBKS will look to continue their dominance over RCB who are looking for revenge. 

PBKS vs RCB Toss Prediction

PBKS don't have a good record at their new home. They have lost three out of eight games. If they win the toss, they may look to bat first. Similarly, RCB may back their batters after an embarrassing collapse where they lost seven wickets for just 42 runs. 

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PBKS vs RCB Predicted Top Performers

Captain Iyer started well but has been dismissed cheaply in last two games. He will look to dominate but does not have the best of record against RCB's left-arm spinner Krunal Pandya. While Phil Salt and Tim David can be destructive, Virat Kohli's role will be crucial if there is enough for bowlers. There is a need for him to play the anchor role. Kohli is the second-highest run-scorer vs PBKS with 1,031 runs from 33 innings at an average of 34.36, including one century and five fifties. Also, Josh Hazlewood can benefit from the nature of the pitch. He is a contender for the purple cap as well. In the previous game against PBKS, he picked up three wickets for just 14 runs.

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For PBKS, Yuzvendra Chahal's role will be crucial considering there is enough for spinners in Mullanpur. Bowling slow and flighting the ball will benefit him against the likes of Rajat Patidar who play spin well. In the absence of Lockie Ferguson, Xavier Bartlett's tendency to bowl into the pitch may turn out to be his plus point. PBKS have been clicking as a unit whether it is Arshdeep Singh with the old and the new ball or Nehal Wadhera in the middle order. However, they need more from their top order.

PBKS vs RCB Win Probability

PBKS hold a slight advantage with 18 wins from 34 games against RCB. In the last two seasons, RCB were not beaten by PBKS but the streak came on an end on April 18.

PBKS vs RCB Full Squads:

RCB Squad: Philip Salt, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar(c), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma(w), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma, Yash Dayal, Devdutt Padikkal, Rasikh Dar Salam, Manoj Bhandage, Jacob Bethell, Swapnil Singh, Lungi Ngidi, Romario Shepherd, Nuwan Thushara, Mohit Rathee, Swastik Chikara, Abhinandan Singh

PBKS Squad: Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya, Shreyas Iyer(c), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Josh Inglis(w), Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Harpreet Brar, Xavier Bartlett, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Glenn Maxwell, Suryansh Shedge, Praveen Dubey, Yash Thakur, Vishnu Vinod, Aaron Hardie, Azmatullah Omarzai, Kuldeep Sen, Harnoor Singh, Musheer Khan, Pyla Avinash