Punjab Kings (PBKS) will face the defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Match No. 61 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) on May 17 at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala.
PBKS currently stands fourth in the points table, with six wins out of 12 matches. They are experiencing a tough time, having lost five games in a row. The team aims to regroup and secure a win to stay in the race for the top two positions.
On the other hand, RCB leads the table with eight wins and four losses from their 12 matches. They will look to defeat PBKS to gain two vital points for a playoff spot.
PBKS vs RCB Match Details
| Match | Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Match 61, IPL 2026 |
| Venue | Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala |
| Date & Time (IST) | Sunday, May 17, 3:30 PM |
| Live Broadcasting & Streaming | JioStar Network Channels and JioHotstar (App & Website) |
PBKS vs RCB Head to Head Record
| Matches Played | 37 |
| Won by PBKS | 18 |
| Won by RCB | 19 |
| Tie/NR | 0 |
| First-ever Fixture | May 05, 2008 (PBKS Win) |
| Most Recent Fixture | June 03, 2025 (RCB Win) |
HPCA Stadium, Dharamshala Pitch Report
The Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium is known for its scenic beauty. It has hosted two matches in IPL 2026, both featuring high scores, often surpassing 200 runs. The chasing teams have won both matches, indicating that the pitch tends to improve as the game goes on. This afternoon match adds further interest to the contest.
PBKS vs RCB Predicted Playing 11s
Punjab Kings (PBKS):
Priyansh Arya, Shreyas Iyer (C), Cooper Connolly, Vishnu Vinod (WK), Suryansh Shedge, Azmatullah Omarzai, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Vijaykumar Vyshak
Impact Player: Prabhsimran Singh
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB):
Jacob Bethell/Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar (C), Jitesh Sharma (WK), Krunal Pandya, Tim David, Venkatesh Iyer, Rasikh Salam, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Jacob Duffy
Impact Player: Devdutt Padikkal
PBKS vs RCB Probable Best Performers of the Match
Probable Best Batter: Virat Kohli