Royal Challengers Bangalore is looking to bounce back after a loss to Punjab Kings in their last match. The team, led by Rjat Patidar, is seeking revenge on Friday at Punjab’s home ground. The match is the first of a double-header, starting at 3:30 PM at the Mullanpur Cricket Stadium.
Punjab Kings is third on the points table with 10 points from 5 wins in 7 matches under Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy. RCB is fifth, having won 4 of 7 matches. In their last encounter, Punjab won by 5 wickets, leaving RCB eager to turn the tables.
The Mullanpur Cricket Stadium has hosted 8 IPL matches so far, with the first match taking place on March 23, 2024. Teams batting first have won 5 out of 8 of these matches, while those bowling first have won 3. The stadium has seen 4 wins each for teams that won and lost the toss.
Record-Breaking Performances
Punjab Kings holds the record for the highest IPL score at the stadium – 219 runs against Chennai Super Kings this season. Priyansh Arya’s 103 runs in the same match is the highest individual score here. Yuzvendra Chahal’s 4/28 against Kolkata Knight Riders is the best bowling spell.
The Mullanpur pitch is expected to favor batsmen, with scores over 200 likely.
Key factors to watch
- Winning the toss and batting first could be a good strategy.
- Fast bowlers are likely to get more help than spinners.
- A score around 190 could be challenging to chase.
This sets the stage for an exciting contest between two competitive teams.