The IPL 2025 season continues to thrill as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) face off against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Match 34 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, on April 18. Both teams have secured four wins in six matches, making this encounter pivotal for climbing the points table. Here is the Dream11 Team Prediction.
Match Overview
- Fixture: RCB vs PBKS, Match 34, IPL 2025
- Date & Time: April 18, 2025, at 7:30 PM IST
- Venue: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
- Live Broadcast: Star Sports Network and JioCinema
RCB, led by Rajat Patidar, boasts a formidable batting lineup with Virat Kohli and Phil Salt in prime form. PBKS, under Shreyas Iyer’s leadership, have displayed resilience, notably defending the lowest total in IPL history against KKR.
Predicted Playing XIs
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB):
- Phil Salt (wk)
- Virat Kohli
- Devdutt Padikkal
- Rajat Patidar (c)
- Liam Livingstone
- Jitesh Sharma
- Tim David
- Krunal Pandya
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar
- Josh Hazlewood
- Yash Dayal
- Impact Sub: Suyash Sharma
Punjab Kings (PBKS):
- Priyansh Arya
- Prabhsimran Singh (wk)
- Shreyas Iyer (c)
- Nehal Wadhera
- Josh Inglis / Marcus Stoinis
- Glenn Maxwell
- Shashank Singh
- Marco Jansen
- Xavier Bartlett
- Yuzvendra Chahal
- Arshdeep Singh
- Impact Sub: Vijaykumar Vyshak / Yash Thakur
Top Fantasy Picks
Wicketkeepers
- Phil Salt (RCB): Consistent at the top order, Salt’s recent performances make him a valuable pick.
- Prabhsimran Singh (PBKS): Reliable behind the stumps and capable of quick runs.
Batsmen
- Virat Kohli (RCB): In stellar form with 267 runs in six innings, averaging 63 with a strike rate of 143.
- Shreyas Iyer (PBKS): Aggressive batting style, accumulating 250 runs at a strike rate of 204.
- Rajat Patidar (RCB): Leading from the front, Patidar’s consistency adds depth to RCB’s batting.
All-rounders
- Glenn Maxwell (PBKS): Dynamic player capable of turning the game with both bat and ball.
- Krunal Pandya (RCB): Offers balance with his all-round capabilities.
- Marco Jansen (PBKS): Provides crucial breakthroughs and handy lower-order runs.
Bowlers
- Josh Hazlewood (RCB): Experienced pacer known for his accuracy and wicket-taking ability.
- Arshdeep Singh (PBKS): Emerging as a reliable death-over specialist.
- Yuzvendra Chahal (PBKS): Veteran spinner with a knack for breaking partnerships.
Captain and Vice-Captain Choices
- Captain: Virat Kohli – Given his current form, Kohli is a top choice for captaincy.
- Vice-Captain: Phil Salt – His aggressive starts can set the tone for RCB’s innings.
Players to Avoid
- Shashank Singh (PBKS): LimitedJ opportunities in the batting order reduce his fantasy potential.
- Tim David (RCB): Batting lower down may not provide ample scoring chances.
Pitch Report and Conditions
The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium is known for its batting-friendly pitch with short boundaries, often resulting in high-scoring games. However, spinners might find some assistance as the match progresses.
Dream11 Team Suggestion
Wicketkeepers:
- Phil Salt (vc)
- Prabhsimran Singh4
Batsmen:
- Virat Kohli (c)
- Shreyas Iyer
- Rajat Patidar
- Priyansh Arya
All-rounders:
- Glenn Maxwell
- Krunal9 Pandya
- Marco Jansen
Bowlers:
- Josh Hazlewood
- Arshdeep Singh
This Dream11 team balances solid top-order performers, dynamic all-rounders, and experienced bowlers. With the pitch expected to assist big hitters, top-order batters and seamers will play a crucial role in your fantasy success.
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