RCB Seek First Home Win as They Brace for Chahal Challenge Against Confident Punjab Kings

• Apr 17, 2025

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will be aiming for their first home win of the IPL 2025 season when they take on a buoyant Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Friday. The key to their success could lie in how effectively their batters counter the experienced leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal.

Chahal, alongside Glenn Maxwell, is expected to pose a significant threat, especially given the RCB batters’ recent struggles against spin. They have faltered against the likes of R Sai Kishore (2/22), Kuldeep Yadav (2/17), and Vipraj Nigam (2/18) in previous games, particularly once the field restrictions eased.

Both Chahal and Maxwell are no strangers to Bengaluru conditions, having spent years in the RCB camp. Their familiarity with the pitch and game dynamics could give PBKS a strategic edge.

RCB might take some comfort in the fact that their earlier spin struggles came while batting first, when dew was not a factor. However, Chahal, fresh off a four-wicket haul against Kolkata Knight Riders, thrives regardless of the conditions. Known for his clever changes of pace and deceptive lengths, he often entices batters into mistimed lofted shots with deliveries tossed wide of the off-stump.

Maxwell, too, is a wily operator with the ball, focusing more on control than big spin. His success against right-handers in white-ball formats could prove handy against an RCB line-up stacked with right-handers.

RCB will look to counter the spin challenge with their own slow-bowling duo—Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma—hoping to land a few blows of their own. On the pace front, PBKS will rely on Arshdeep Singh and Marco Jansen, who, while not as celebrated as Josh Hazlewood or Bhuvneshwar Kumar, are capable of delivering match-winning spells.

Captaincy Duel: Patidar vs Iyer

On paper, RCB skipper Rajat Patidar and PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer are poles apart. Iyer brings with him a proven track record and leadership credentials, including leading an IPL-winning side. Patidar, in contrast, is a first-time IPL captain still building his reputation.

Yet, both have showcased composure under pressure and calm leadership styles. Patidar, tasked with leading a star-studded line-up that includes Virat Kohli and Hazlewood, has managed to strike a balance between authority and humility. He will need to be at his tactical best against a well-rounded PBKS unit.

As a proficient player of spin, Patidar may also shoulder the responsibility of tackling the Chahal-Maxwell threat—especially if the Chinnaswamy track plays slow.

Iyer, meanwhile, is among the best players of spin in the Punjab line-up and will be key to countering the RCB spin duo of Krunal and Suyash. Punjab will come into the match high on confidence after a gritty 16-run win over KKR, but they’ll be aware that RCB presents a tougher challenge with its depth in both batting and bowling.

Squads (from):

Royal Challengers Bengaluru:
Rajat Patidar (capt), Virat Kohli, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Liam Livingstone, Rasikh Salam, Suyash Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Nuwan Thushara, Manoj Bhandage, Jacob Bethel, Devdutt Padikkal, Swastik Chhikara, Lungi Ngidi, Abhinandan Singh, Mohit Rathee.

Punjab Kings:
Shreyas Iyer (capt), Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Yash Thakur, Suryansh Shedge, Praveen Dubey, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Harpreet Brar, Azmatullah Omarzai, Josh Inglis, Xavier Bartlett, Vishnu Vinod, Aaron Hardie, Kuldeep Sen, Harnoor Singh, Musheer Khan, Pyla Avinash.