IPL 2026 Match 70 — PBKS vs RCB: Preview, Probable XI & Prediction

PBKS

Kings

MATCH 70

April 27, 2026 · 3:30 PM IST

Punjab Cricket Association Stadium

RCB

Bengaluru

Punjab Kings host defending champions RCB at Mullanpur — the PBKS pace attack will relish the pace-friendly surface against Kohli and Maxwell.

Venue & Pitch Analysis — Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mullanpur

PBKS's home at Mullanpur has a pace-friendly surface with decent grass cover. Short extra-cover boundary (~60m) suits left-handers. Pacers get zip off the deck, especially in the powerplay.

• Average 1st innings score: 164 runs
• Average 2nd innings score: 157 runs
• Pitch type: Pace-friendly
• Toss preference: Balanced; toss winner will assess conditions before deciding

Mullanpur replaced Mohali as PBKS home ground from IPL 2024, with excellent crowd support.

Probable Playing XIs

Head-to-Head Record

Punjab Kings lead the head-to-head with 15 wins from 28 meetings. However, recent form and home advantage will be the key differentiators in IPL 2026.

Key Battles to Watch

• Rilee Rossouw vs Mohammed Siraj: Rossouw is in sublime touch this season and will be keen to dominate against Siraj, who will try to keep things tight in the powerplay.
• Virat Kohli vs Arshdeep Singh: Kohli is RCB's most explosive batter and Singh has the pace to trouble them. Whoever wins this duel often decides the match.
• Sam Curran vs Glenn Maxwell: The all-rounder battle — both Curran and Maxwell can change games with bat and ball. Their contributions in the middle overs will be critical.

Match Prediction

Balanced conditions at Mullanpur mean either team could dominate. Powerplay performance will be crucial. Sport God AI gives the edge to <strong>Royal Challengers Bengaluru</strong> — their bowling depth and recent form makes them the narrow favourite at this venue.

• Predicted 1st innings total: 159–172 runs
• Likely match winner: Royal Challengers Bengaluru
• Toss call: Field first — chase the target with dew assistance

Fantasy Cricket Picks

• Captain (2×): Virat Kohli — in top form and perfectly suited to these Mullanpur conditions.
• Vice-Captain (1.5×): Glenn Maxwell — capable of winning the match almost single-handedly with bat or ball.
• Differential pick: Mohammed Siraj — could be a match-winner if conditions assist the bowlers in the powerplay.
• Safe pick: Arshdeep Singh — consistent performer who earns points in every game regardless of venue.
• Budget pick: Jitesh Sharma — lower price point but high ceiling in these conditions.

Get real-time win probability, live fantasy points, and ball-by-ball AI insights on the Sport God AI match center — free during IPL 2026.