IPL 2021: Match 26, PBKS vs RCB Match Prediction – Who will win today’s match?

Preview 

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have been on a rampage in the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Having won five out of their first six matches, the Virat Kohli-led unit is within touching distance of qualifying for the playoffs.

In their previous game, they beat Rishabh Pant’s Delhi Capitals (DC) by one run on Tuesday, April 27 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. In their next match, RCB would be up against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Friday, April 30 at the same venue.

PBKS, on the other hand, are placed sixth and need a win desperately to climb the ladder. With two wins from six games, another loss could set the cat among the pigeons in their camp. In their last game, KL Rahul and Co went down to the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by five wickets.

Match Details

Match – Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bangalore – 26th match

Venue – Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

Time – 7:30 PM IST, 02:00 PM GMT

Where to watch live – Star Sports Network, Hotstar

Pitch Report

The pitch in Ahmedabad has been an excellent one for batting. The track has helped the slower bowlers to some extent, if not a whole lot. Batting second should be the way forward.

The conditions will be hot with the temperature around the 40 degrees Celsius mark. The humidity will be on the lower side though. There are no chances of rain whatsoever.

Avg first innings score: 164 (Last 7 T20 matches at the Narendra Modi Stadium)

Record of chasing teams: Won – 3, Lost – 4, Tied – 0

Probable Playing XIs:

Punjab Kings

KL Rahul (C & WK), Mayank Agarwal, Chris Gayle, Deepak Hooda, Nicholas Pooran, Moises Henriques, Shahrukh Khan, Chris Jordan, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravi Bishnoi

Bench: Mandeep Singh, Dawid Malan, Sarfaraz Khan, Harpreet Brar, Saurabh Kumar, Prabhsimran Singh, Ishan Porel, Utkarsh Singh, Riley Meredith, Jalaj Saxena, Jhye Richardson, Murugan Ashwin, Fabian Allen

Royal Challengers Bangalore

Devdutt Padikkal, Virat Kohli (C), Washington Sundar, AB de Villiers (WK), Glenn Maxwell, Daniel Christian, Kyle Jamieson, Harshal Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammad Siraj, Navdeep Saini

Bench: Suyash Prabhudessai, Sachin Baby, Pavan Deshpande, Rajat Patidar, Daniel Sams, Mohammad Azharuddeen, Shahbaz Ahmed, Finn Allen, KS Bharat

Head-to-Head

Overall

Played – 26 | Punjab Kings– 14 | Royal Challengers Bangalore– 12 |N/R – 0

At neutral venues

Played – 8 | Punjab Kings – 6 | Royal Challengers Bangalore – 2 |N/R – 0

Probable best batsman of the match

KL Rahul– Punjab Kings

KL Rahul has masterful numbers against the Bangalore-based franchise. In nine games, the right-hander has notched 371 runs at an average and strike rate of 74.20 and 155.23 respectively.

His top score of an unbeaten 132 came last year in Dubai, leading PBKS to a win. In the ongoing tournament, Rahul has scored 240 runs at an average of 48 with three half-centuries to show for his efforts.

Harshal Patel– Royal Challengers Bangalore

Harshal Patel, without much of a doubt, has been the standout batter for the Challengers in the tournament. He is currently the Purple Cap holder with 17 scalps from six games at a brilliant strike rate of 8.4.

At the present point in time, he is picking up nearly three wickets in every game. Moreover, his economy rate of 8.50 isn’t the worst since the speedster mostly bowls at the death.

Today’s match prediction: The team, batting second to win the match.

Scenario 1

Punjab win the toss and bowl

Powerplay score – 45-50

First innings score – 165-185

Punjab win the match

Scenario 2

Bangalore win the toss and bowl

Powerplay score – 40-45

First innings score – 160-180

Bangalore win the match

Disclaimer: This prediction is based on the understanding, analysis, and instinct of the author. While making your prediction, consider the points mentioned, and make your own decision.