RCB vs PBKS exactly one year ago, Bhuvneshwar Kumar defended those final runs and RCB lifted the trophy.
Now they meet again. Same teams, same rivalry. But this time in Dharamsala, with a playoff spot on the line.
And the question every cricket fan is asking right now is simple: Can PBKS finally get their revenge?
RCB vs PBKS: Who Makes the Playoffs?
The table tells the story.
RCB sit second with 14 points and an NRR of +1.103. PBKS answer with 13 points but a significantly lower NRR of +0.428.
But it is not just about points. It is about momentum. RCB have won 3 of their last 5. PBKS have lost 4 in a row.
For RCB, winning here means consolidating their position. For PBKS, it is about survival.
4-1: The Stat PBKS Really Do Not Want to See
In their last 5 head to head meetings, RCB have won 4 times. PBKS just once.
And we are not talking about close finishes:
- IPL Final 2025 — RCB win by 6 runs
- Qualifier 1 2025 — RCB crush PBKS by 8 wickets with 60 balls to spare
- April 2025 — RCB win by 7 wickets
- Dharamsala 2024 — RCB win by 60 runs with Kohli scoring 92
The only recent PBKS win? At Bangalore. In RCB’s backyard.
At Dharamsala where May 17 is being played RCB have never lost to them.
PBKS: 4 Losses in a Row. Problem or Bad Luck?
Shreyas Iyer is in stunning form: 374 runs, average 62.33. Prabhsimran Singh opens with 345 runs at a strike rate of 170.
The talent is there. Nobody is questioning that.
But something has broken down. After those two, the batting becomes unpredictable. Arshdeep Singh has 13 wickets but an economy of 9.87 higher than you would want from your lead pacer.
Four consecutive defeats do not happen by coincidence. And against RCB, historically, PBKS pay double for every mistake they make.
RCB: Here Is Why They Are the Favourites
Bhuvneshwar Kumar 20 wickets, economy 7.44. The most efficient bowler in the tournament right now.
Krunal Pandya the man who dismantled PBKS in the final with 2/17 already has 10 wickets this season at an economy of 8.44.
With the bat, Patidar is striking at 190. Kohli remains consistent with 310 runs across 10 matches.
This RCB knows how to win the matches that matter. They proved it in the 2025 final. They proved it in the Qualifier. The pattern is clear.
Does Dharamsala Change Everything?
At this altitude the ball travels faster through the air. Aggressive batters love these conditions.
In 2024, these two teams combined for 422 runs right here in Dharamsala the highest ever match aggregate between RCB and PBKS in IPL history.
The match starts at 3:30 PM local time. Daytime conditions that suit batters early on, with the evening dew potentially shifting the balance in the second innings.
Whoever wins the toss could have a real edge.
Who Wins on May 17?
The numbers say RCB. The form says RCB. The recent history says RCB.
But T20 cricket is not played on paper.
If PBKS find their best cricket Prabhsimran tearing through the powerplay, Arshdeep lethal at the death this match can flip in 6 balls.
But if RCB arrive in Dharamsala with the same hunger they showed in the 2025 final, it could be another long evening for Punjab.
What do you think? Can PBKS pull off the upset or does RCB dominate again? Drop your prediction in the comments I want to know which side you are on.
