IPL 2026 | PBKS vs RCB Match Prediction | 61st Match – Who Will Win Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru match?

Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru – 61st Match

The 61st Match of the Indian Premier League 2026 will see Punjab Kings take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Sunday, May 17, at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala. The match is scheduled to begin at 3:30 PM local time (10:00 AM GMT / 3:00 AM PT / 6:00 AM ET).

Punjab Kings enter this match with a strong and flexible squad. Their batting lineup includes Shreyas Iyer, Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Vishnu Vinod, Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Suryansh Shedge, Harnoor Singh, and Pyla Avinash. With Shreyas Iyer, Prabhsimran Singh, and Nehal Wadhera, PBKS have stability, attacking intent, and useful middle-order support.

PBKS’s all-round department also gives them good depth. Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mitchell Owen, Cooper Connolly, Musheer Khan, Suryansh Shedge, and Harpreet Brar can contribute in both departments. Stoinis and Shashank can add power in the middle overs, while Jansen and Omarzai provide pace-bowling support with batting depth.

Punjab’s bowling attack has pace, spin, and wicket-taking options. Arshdeep Singh, Xavier Bartlett, Lockie Ferguson, Yash Thakur, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Ben Dwarshuis, Marco Jansen, Yuzvendra Chahal, Harpreet Brar, Praveen Dubey, and Vishal Nishad give PBKS several choices. Arshdeep can be important with the new ball and at the death, while Chahal may be key in the middle overs.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru come into this contest with a strong and experienced batting unit. Their batting lineup includes Rajat Patidar, Tim David, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Philip Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Jacob Bethell, Venkatesh Iyer, Jordan Cox, Vihaan Malhotra, and Satvik Deswal. With Kohli, Salt, Patidar, and Tim David, RCB have top-order quality and finishing power.

RCB’s all-round department also looks balanced. Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Venkatesh Iyer, Jacob Bethell, Swapnil Singh, and Tim David give the team useful options in both batting and bowling. Krunal and Swapnil can be effective if the pitch offers grip, while Shepherd and Tim David can provide big hitting in the final overs.

RCB’s bowling attack has experience and variety. Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rasikh Salam Dar, Suyash Sharma, Nuwan Thushara, Jacob Duffy, Vicky Ostwal, Kanishk Chouhan, Abhinandan Singh, and Mangesh Yadav give RCB pace, swing, spin, and death-over options. Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar can be important with the new ball, while Suyash Sharma may control the middle overs.

The Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium pitch in Dharamsala usually offers bounce and carry for fast bowlers. Batters can score quickly once they settle in, but early movement may test the top order. Spinners can also be useful if they vary their pace well. A score of around 170-190 can be competitive at this venue.

Expert Prediction: Royal Challengers Bengaluru have 52% chance and Punjab Kings have 48% winning chance.\