PBKS Vs RCB Match Prediction: The 19th edition of the Indian Premier League, the world’s most popular franchise cricket league, will be held in 2026. IPL 2026 will feature 10 teams competing for the world’s most prestigious franchise cricket competition trophy.
The Punjab Kings are one of only three teams in the IPL to have never won the league, and one of two that have been here for the whole time. The Punjab Kings have, for much of their history, been a fodder team in the league, with a few playoff appearances under their belt. However, in 2025, they topped the league and reached the final, where they lost to the Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
The Kings have gotten off to a fine start to their season. They defeated the Gujarat Titans in their opening game, then defeated the Chennai Super Kings in style. Their third game against the Kolkata Knight Riders was washed out, after which they won against the Sunrisers Hyderabad. They remained undefeated after beating the Mumbai Indians, then beat the Lucknow Super Giants.
PBKS was then beaten by the Rajasthan Royals, before losing to the Gujarat Titans. They then made it three in a row with a loss to the Sunrisers Hyderabad. A loss against the Delhi Capitals came next. A fifth defeat in a row against the Mumbai Indians followed. With six wins, five losses, one no result, 13 points, and a positive net run rate in 12 games, Punjab is currently fourth on the points table.
Meanwhile, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru come into this competition as the defending champions. Despite being one of the most popular teams in the league, RCB did not win a title for the first 17 years of its existence. But now, after winning their first IPL trophy, they will come into this one as the defending champions for the first time.
The Royal Challengers’ first game of the season was the tournament opener, in which they defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad fairly comfortably. Then, in their second game, they dominated against the Chennai Super Kings. Then came their third, they lost to the Rajasthan Royals, before bouncing back and defeating the Mumbai Indians. They then dominated the Lucknow Super Giants, before losing their first this season against the Delhi Capitals.
RCB was then beaten by the Gujarat Titans, before trouncing the Mumbai Indians. They have also recently defeated the Delhi Capitals to make it two in a row. Then came two defeats in a row, against the Gujarat Titans and the Lucknow Super Giants. Then came a narrow victory against the Mumbai Indians, before a solid victory against the Kolkata Knight Riders. With eight wins, four losses, 16 points, and the best net run rate in the league in 12 games, Bengaluru are on top of the points table.
PBKS Vs RCB Match Prediction Date and Time:
● Dates: Sunday, May 17, 2026
● Time: 03:30 PM (IST)
● Venue: HPCA Stadium, Dharamshala
PBKS Vs RCB Live Streaming: How To Watch
The Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Match 61 of the IPL 2026 will be broadcast live on the Star Sports Network on TV in India. It will be live-streamed on the JioHotstar app and website on mobiles, laptops, and other streaming devices.
Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Prediction T20Is: Head-to-Head
● Matches Played: 37
● Punjab Kings Won: 18
● Royal Challengers Bengaluru Won: 19
● No Result: 01
● First Played: May 05, 2008 (PBKS win)
● Last Played: June 03, 2025 (RCB win)
PBKS Vs RCB Toss Update
*To be updated after the toss*
PBKS Vs RCB Team; Predicted XIs:
Punjab Kings Predicted XI:
Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (C), Suryansh Shedge, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Lockie Ferguson, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal*
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Predicted XI:
Virat Kohli, Jacob Bethell, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (C), Tim David, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Salam, Suyash Sharma*
PBKS Vs RCB Match 61 IPL 2026 HPCA Stadium Pitch Report
The pitch, conditions, and geography of the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala make it a high-scoring venue. The pitches here are usually conducive to high scoring. While there might be some movement for pacers early in the inning, the surface evens out, and the ball starts coming onto the bat better as the match proceeds. The ground itself is small, which allows the batters to take risks and play big shots. Even the stadium’s elevation above sea level, which makes the air thinner, helps the ball travel farther. This is one of the smallest international cricket stadiums in India. The square boundaries are 62-65m away from the batter, while the straight ones are 60m or less
PBKS Vs RCB Match 61 Weather Forecast
The weather report for matchday in Dharamshala predicts a fine afternoon to play cricket. Unlike much of India in May, especially in the afternoon, the temperatures here are tolerable throughout the day. The mercury will remain in the mid 20s. The skies will be clear, and the chances of rain are next to zero, despite a slight haze in the air. The winds will be moderate, while the humidity will be low.
PBKS Vs RCB Match 61 IPL 2026 Match Royal Challengers Bengaluru Prediction: 3 Players To Watch Out For
The 3 players to watch out for in the PBKS Vs RCB IPL 2026 Match 61 are:
● Royal Challengers Bengaluru batter Virat Kohli
● Punjab Kings wicketkeeper/batter Prabhsimran Singh
● Royal Challengers Bengaluru bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Prediction: Who will Win Today’s Match 61?
For the PBKS Vs RCB IPL 2026 Match 61 Prediction, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru will defeat the Punjab Kings in Match 61 of the Indian Premier League 2026.
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