PBKS vs RCB, Qualifier 1: Josh Hazlewood returns as RCB captain, Rajat Patidar opts to bowl against Punjab Kings, check playing XIs

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain Rajat Patida won the toss and opted to bowl first against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the qualifier 1 clash of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 at the New PCA Stadium in Mullanpur. The winner of this clash will seal a berth for the finale, which will take place on June 3 at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad and the loser will feature in Qualifier 2, where they will face the winner of the eliminator, which will take place at the same venue on May 30. 

RCB vs PBKS head-to-head

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) have played 25 matches against each other in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL) so far, where the Bengaluru-based franchise has won 17 and PBKS have victorious on 18 occasions. Both teams faced each other twice in IPL 2025, where both teams won one match against each other. RCB have defeated PBKS in Mullanpur in IPL 2025 by seven wickets. 

Captains at toss

Shreyas Iyer: Would have bowled first as well. If you look at the record here, teams batting first have done well, so I am optimistic. They have been tremendous and you need such kind of vibration when you enter the ground and it gives us a lot of energy as well. The way they (openers) have been showing the fearless approach and the attitude has been brilliant. Marco goes out and Azmatullah comes in for him.

Rajat Patidar: We will bowl first. Wicket looks very hard, decent covering of grass and will try to maximise the first few overs. Everyone gave more than 100 per cent in the last game, Jitesh Salt and Kohli they were tremendous. One change for us. Hazlewood comes in place of Thushara.

RCB vs PBKS playing XIs

Punjab Kings (Playing XI): Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Josh Inglis(w), Shreyas Iyer(c), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Azmatullah Omarzai, Harpreet Brar, Arshdeep Singh, Kyle Jamieson

Punjab Kings Impact Subs: Vijaykumar Vyshak, Praveen Dubey, Suryansh Shedge, Musheer Khan, Xavier Bartlet.
 

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Playing XI): Virat Kohli, Philip Salt, Rajat Patidar(c), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma(w), Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma. 

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Impact Subs: Mayank Agarawal, Rasikh Salam, Manoj Bhandage, Tim Seifert, Swapnil Singh.