IPL 2025 Clash: Punjab Kings Look to Extend Lead as RCB Chase Redemption in Mullanpur

With a top-two finish in sight, PBKS seek back-to-back wins over RCB, who are under pressure to arrest their mid-season slide in this crucial Match 37 face-off.

📍 Date: April 20, 2025
📌 Venue: Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Stadium, Mullanpur (New Chandigarh)

📣 Toss Update:
RCB skipper Rajat Patidar won the toss and elected to field first, hoping to make early inroads and capitalize on any morning moisture at the Mullanpur pitch.

With the playoff race heating up, both sides know the value of momentum—and today’s clash is a golden opportunity to seize it.

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🏏 Super Sunday Showdown: PBKS vs RCB – A Rematch with High Stakes

Just two days after a rain-shortened contest in Bengaluru, the Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) lock horns again in what promises to be another intense battle. Match 37 of IPL 2025 holds added significance with PBKS sitting second on the table with 5 wins from 8 games, while RCB, having slipped to fourth, are eager to stop their downward spiral.

With the playoff race heating up, both sides know the value of momentum—and today’s clash is a golden opportunity to seize it.

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🔁 Recap: April 18 Clash – PBKS Dominate Rain-Cut Thriller

In their most recent clash, PBKS clinched a comfortable five-wicket win in a rain-curtailed 14-over match at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

• RCB struggled with the bat, managing only 95/9, with Tim David’s unbeaten 50 being the lone bright spot.
• PBKS bowlers ran riot, with Arshdeep Singh, Harpreet Brar, Marco Jansen, and Yuzvendra Chahal picking two wickets apiece.
• PBKS chased down the target in 12.1 overs, with Nehal Wadhera’s composed 33* guiding the team to a smooth finish.

This win not only gave Punjab two vital points but also psychological leverage going into today’s match.

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🔍 Team Watch: Form Guide and Key Players

Punjab Kings (PBKS)

🟥 Shreyas Iyer (Captain):
Leading with clarity and confidence, Iyer has played the anchor role brilliantly while making bold bowling changes.

🟥 Nehal Wadhera:
The young southpaw’s ability to absorb pressure and rotate strike in crunch moments makes him a valuable middle-order asset.

🟥 Bowling Unit:
PBKS’s real strength lies in their bowling—

• Arshdeep Singh and Marco Jansen with the new ball
• Yuzvendra Chahal and Harpreet Brar squeezing in the middle overs
  Together, they’ve choked batting lineups consistently.

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Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)

🟦 Rajat Patidar (Captain):
While still adapting to the captaincy mantle, Patidar’s calm demeanor and stroke-play have kept RCB competitive.

🟦 Tim David:
The lone warrior in the last clash, his fearless hitting provides the firepower RCB desperately needs in the lower order.

🟦 Josh Hazlewood:
Returning from injury, the Aussie pacer has picked up 6 wickets in 3 matches at an economy of just 7.27. His role in the powerplay and death overs could be decisive.

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🌤️ Pitch and Weather Forecast

The Mullanpur pitch has played true so far, with good bounce and a fast outfield.

• Batters can expect value for shots, but spinners like Chahal and Brar may find some grip in the second innings.
• Temperature: 34–36°C
• Weather: Partly cloudy, slight chance of a passing shower, but no major interruptions expected.
• Score Expectation: A total of 190+ could be par on this surface.

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⚔️ Head-to-Head Stats

• Total Matches: 34
• PBKS Wins: 18
• RCB Wins: 16

Punjab now lead the head-to-head tally after their latest victory and will be keen to make it two in two against RCB this season. The Bengaluru side, however, is known for bouncing back under pressure.

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🔮 What to Expect

This isn’t just another league game—

• PBKS could potentially go top with a win, depending on NRR.
• RCB, on the other hand, could risk falling out of the playoff zone if their losing streak continues.

Expect fireworks from the start, tactical captaincy, and a neck-and-neck battle with big playoff implications.

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📣 Final Word

While PBKS look like the more settled unit with in-form bowlers and composed batting, RCB’s depth and potential to explode cannot be ignored. With pride, points, and momentum on the line, cricket fans are in for a Sunday blockbuster.