IPL 2023 Predictions: PBKS vs RCB

Punjab Kings is set to take on Royal Challengers Bangalore on Thursday 20th April 2023, at Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali.

Out of the last 5 games played between the 2 sides, PBKS has won four games and RCB has won 1 game.

Punjab Kings has won their last match played against RCB by 54 runs.

Punjab have played a total of five matches in IPL 2023 with three wins to their name. They are currently in fifth position on the points table.

Punjab Kings will be sweating over skipper Shikhar Dhawan and Liam Livingstone’s fitness.

Both of them failed to take part in the last match against Lucknow Super Giants.

English allrounder Sam Curran led PBKS in Dhawan’s absence.

Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza came up with a sublime half century to guide the team to a two-wicket win over LSG.

RCB will come into the contest after being defeated by Chennai Super Kings by eight runs in a high-scoring match.

With four points from five games, the Faf du Plessis-led side are now placed in eighth position on the IPL 2023 points table.

IS Bindra Stadium stats

A total of 14 IPL matches have been played at this stadium.

The team batting first won 42.86 of the matches and the second team won 57.14% of the matches.

The average score for the team batting first (1st innings) is 170.43.

The average winning score for the team batting first (1st innings) is 186.23.

This implies that if a team posts a total of around 187 or more, they have a good chance of winning the match.

Probable Punjab Playing XI and their stats

1. Shikhar Dhawan (c): Match 04 Runs -233
2. Prabhsimran Singh: Match 05 Runs -87
3. Jitesh Sharma (wk): Match 05 Runs -79
4. Matthew Short: Match 03 Runs -71 and Wickets -00
5. Shahrukh Khan: Match 05 Runs -71
6. Harpreet Singh Bhatia: Match 01 Runs -22
7. Kagiso Rabada: Match 02 Runs -00 and Wickets – 03
8. Sikandar Raza: Match 04 Runs -79 and Wickets – 02
9. Arshdeep Singh: Match 05 Runs -DNB and Wickets – 08
10. Sam Curran: Match 05 Runs -77 and Wickets – 05
11. Harpreet Brar: Match 05 Runs -15 and Wickets – 02

This clearly shows that the Punjab batting is over-reliant on Shikhar Dhawan and the rest of the batters haven’t really fired.

Their pace spearheads Rabada and Curran have also been under par and only Arshdeep has lived up to his reputation.

Probable RCB Playing XI and their stats

1. Virat Kohli: Match -05 Runs -220
2. Faf du Plessis (c): Match -05 Runs -259
3. Glenn Maxwell: Match -05 Runs -176 and Wickets – 01
4. Mohammed Siraj: Match -05 Runs -DNNB and Wickets – 08
5. Shahbaz Ahmed: Match -05 Runs -33 and Wickets – 00
6. Mahipal Lomror: Match -03 Runs -26
7. Wayne Parnell: Match -03 Runs – 02 and Wickets -05
8. Harshal Patel: Match -05 Runs -06 and Wickets – 06
9. Wanindu Hasaranga: Match -02 Runs -02 and Wickets – 02
10. Vijaykumar Vyshak: Match -02 Runs -DNB and Wickets – 04
11. Dinesh Karthik (wk): Match -05 Runs -38

The RCB batting has been about the Big 3 – Kohli, Faf and Maxwell while the rest of the batters have been mere passengers.

Dinesh Karthik’s batting wobbles have been a major factor why RCB have under-performed.

Siraj has been the pick of the bowlers but Harshal Patel hasn’t been prolific in taking wickets, which is hurting RCB.

Player form

Virat Kohli failed to perform in the game against the Super Kings where Akash Singh dismissed him.

But apart from that, the right-handed batter from Delhi has looked in ominous touch.

Kohli should enjoy batting on the pitch in Mohali which is suited for free stroke-play.

With 197 runs in four games, Faf du Plessis has been outstanding for the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Du Plessis has two fifty-plus scores in four games and a strike rate of 168.38, which is outstanding.

For Punjab, the big plus has been Sam Curran’s return to form.

In the last match vs LSG, Curran bagged three wickets in four overs for just 31 runs.

Who will win

Punjab’s brittle batting line-up is a cause of worry.

Their bowling is strong with the likes of Rabada, Curran and Short but the lack of a strong batting spine will undermine them.

RCB were unlucky to lose the last match vs CSK. However Maxwell has rediscovered his touch and that spells trouble for Punjab.

Our prediction is that RCB will come out as winners.