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IPL: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Punjab Kings Preview: Tips, Odds and Predictions

Thanks to two wins out of three, Royal Challengers Bengaluru have set themselves on a good trajectory for the IPL playoffs. Punjab Kings are one position behind with the same win-loss record and both teams are strong contenders for the next round. Royal Challengers will host Punjab Kings at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on April 17, with IPL betting sites listing the odds.

Chad Nagel
Chad Nagel

Last Updated: 2025-04-07

Bruce Douglas

6 minutes read

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Kolkata Knight Riders v Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Kolkata Knight Riders v Royal Challengers Bengaluru/Getty Images

Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Punjab Kings Match Details

  • Date: April 18, 2025
  • Starting time: 19:30 local time
  • Venue: M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
  • Last meeting: Royal Challengers Bengaluru defeated Punjab Kings by 60 runs (May 9, 2024)

SportsBoom has made its prediction for Royal Challengers Bengaluru versus Punjab Kings, with online betting sites also giving odds for the IPL clash.

Pre-Game Odds and Win Probability: Royal Challengers Bengaluru Favoured

  1. Home: 7/10 (1.7) - 58.9%

  2. Away: 59/50 (2.18) - 45.9%

  3. Odds courtesy of Betandyou - subject to change

Head-to-Head Record

Last five meetings (Indian Premier League)

  1. March 25, 2024: Royal Challengers won by 4 wickets

  2. April 20, 2023: Royal Challengers won by 24 runs

  3. May 13, 2022: Punjab Kings won by 54 runs

  4. March 27, 2022: Punjab Kings won by 5 wickets

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Current Squad

Key Players to Watch

  • Rajat Patidar

The captain contributed a quickfire 34 in the win over Kolkata Knight Riders and 51 in the victory against Chennai Super Kings. He has shown glimpses of the maturity needed to lead from the top- to middle-order and RCB would continue to rely on his leadership to see them thrive in the early part of the innings.

  • Josh Hazlewood

The Australian pace bowler has claimed six wickets from three games thus far, boasting an economy rate of below 6.00 in two of those matches. His accuracy and length, attributed to his imposing height, are a lethal combination and Royal Challengers would need him to continue reaping dismissals.

  • Liam Livingstone

The English all-rounder has been a decent contributor for RCB this season, taking two wickets and contributing useful totals - including 54 from 40 balls in the loss to Gujarat Titans. His skills with the bat and the ball could be crucial for his team’s playoff aspirations.

Punjab Kings: Current Squad

Key Players to Watch

  • Shreyas Iyer

The captain has been in tremendous touch in the early part of the campaign, scoring an immense 97 in the win over Gujarat Titans and an unbeaten 52 in the victory against Lucknow Super Giants. His capabilities at the crease could be the difference between a loss or win away.

  • Arshdeep Singh

The left-handed bowler has been in dominant form this season, with six wickets from Punjab Kings’ first three games. His deadly yorker-length deliveries and blistering pace have been difficult for the opposition batsmen to handle.

  • Glenn Maxwell

While the Australian all-rounder has been out of form with the bat, he has taken a couple of useful wickets with his spin deliveries. Having proven himself as a major hitter in previous seasons, Punjab Kings would be hoping he can fill out the middle overs with boundaries.

Predicted Line-ups

Royal Challengers welcome Punjab Kings for an Indian Premier League clash on April 18. SportsBoom looks at the possible line-ups for both teams.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru

  1. Phil Salt (A powerful English opener with a great strike rate)
  2. Virat Kohli (The veteran opener has been scoring consistently)
  3. Devdutt Paddikal (This top-order batsman needs to contribute regularly)
  4. Rajat Patidar (The captain has helped anchor the middle overs)
  5. Liam Livingstone (An English all-rounder who can turn the tide)
  6. Jitesh Sharma (The wicketkeeper-batsman provides useful scores)
  7. Tim David (An Australian middle-order batsman who hits hard)
  8. Krunal Pandya (An all-rounder looking for time in the middle)
  9. Bhuvneshwar Kumar (This fast bowler is a lethal wicket-taker)
  10. Josh Hazlewood (The Australian bowler excels at dismissals)
  11. Yash Dayal (This young bowler has proven himself economical)

Punjab Kings

  1. Priyansh Arya (A left-handed opening batsman leading from the front)
  2. Prabhsimran Singh (The wicketkeeper-batsman is a solid striker of the ball)
  3. Shreyas Iyer (The captain is in fine form, filling out the top-order scoring)
  4. Marcus Stoinis (The Australian all-rounder contributes runs and wickets)
  5. Shashank Singh (This all-rounder is a useful scorer and spin bowler)
  6. Glenn Maxwell (An Australian all-rounder who excels at boundaries)
  7. Suryansh Shedge (A lower-order batsman and power hitter)
  8. Marco Jansen (A South African fast bowler boosts late-innings runs)
  9. Lockie Ferguson (The New Zealand pace bowler has vast experience)
  10. Arshdeep Singh (A left-handed fast bowler skilled at taking wickets)
  11. Yuzvendra Chahal (This spin bowler boasts experience and skill)

Suggested Bets

Sports fans who enjoy betting on the Indian Premier League can place some of these suggested bets with some of the top IPL betting sportsbooks:

  1. Total Even - Yes: Given the scoring credentials of both teams and the nature of the game likely to be hard-hitting, an abundance of fours and sixes could result in an even total (119/100 with Betandyou) (119/100 with BetWinner)

Value Bets

For those looking for extra value on IPL bets on matches like RCB vs PBKS, where scoring is likely to be high, top sportsbooks are offering a sportsbook welcome bonus:

  1. First Ball of the Match - 1 Run: The clash between the two current playoff contenders could be a somewhat cautious affair to begin, with each opening pair wanting to maximise time at the crease (21/10 with BetWinner) (21/10 with Betandyou)

Prediction: Royal Challengers Bengaluru to Win

Royal Challengers Bengaluru enter this match in a solid position after two wins out of three matches, while Punjab Kings would also fancy their chances after similar results in the league so far this season.

With the home-pitch advantage at M Chinnaswamy Stadium and a formidable line-up in the batting department, Royal Challengers Bengaluru have been given the odds of winning. Punjab Kings need to keep their bowling lines tight and their batting impactful to overcome the hosts in Bengaluru.

Chad Nagel
Chad NagelContent Manager

Chad Nagel is a passionate sports fanatic who has worked in the sports and betting industry for over a decade. He spent most of his career as an editor-in-chief for Soccer Betting News, South Africa’s leading soccer betting newspaper, owned by Hollywoodbets. His articles have also featured in some of the most respected sports media platforms in the world, such as SPORTbible, Sports Illustrated, Combat Sports UK, and many others.

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