PBKS Vs RCB Highlights, IPL 2026: Bengaluru Seal Playoff Berth As Punjab Lose Sixth Match In A Row

Good afternoon, and welcome to our live blog covering Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2026, stay tuned for live updates from this high-stakes encounter.

The Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru IPL 2026 Match 61 will be televised live on the Star Sports Network in India. Fans can also watch the live streaming of the match on the JioHotstar app and website.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings have met 37 times in the IPL so far, with RCB edging the rivalry 19–18. RCB’s highest total against PBKS is 241, while their lowest is 84.

PBKS, meanwhile, have posted a best of 232 in this fixture, with their lowest score being 88. With such a tight head-to-head record and both sides capable of producing explosive totals, this matchup continues to deliver high-intensity, unpredictable cricket that fans closely follow.

Punjab Kings take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a high-stakes IPL 2026 clash at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala, with both sides eyeing crucial points in the playoff race. PBKS will be desperate to snap their losing streak and regain momentum, while RCB arrive at the top of the table, aiming to tighten their grip on a playoff spot with another strong performance.

Punjab Kings have won the toss and have opted to field.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Playing XI): Jacob Bethell, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Venkatesh Iyer, Jitesh Sharma(w/c), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma

Punjab Kings (Playing XI): Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh(w), Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer(c), Suryansh Shedge, Shashank Singh, Azmatullah Omarzai, Harpreet Brar, Lockie Ferguson, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal

Arshdeep Singh bowls a tidy first over giving just three runs from it. RCB will miss the services of their skipper Rajat Patidar in this match and Jitesh Sharma will captain in his absence. RCB would like openers - Virat Kohli and Jacob Bethell to give them a flying start in Dharamsala.

RCB 4/0 (1)

A tactical brilliance by Shreyas Iyer as he brings the off-spinner Harpreet Brar inside the powerplay, who castles the dangerous Jacob Bethell. However, Rajat Patidar asserts his dominance over the off-spinner by slamming him for a six over covers but all in all it turned out to be successful over for PBKS.

RCB 27/1 (3)

Despite losing Jacob Bethell cheaply, RCB have not let in affect their run-rate as they batted with over 10 runs per over in the powerplay. Both Virat Kohli and Devdutt Paddikal have looked quite comfortable on the crease and took down bad balls at will.

RCB 61/1 (6)

Just as it was looking that the partnership between Virat Kohli and Devdutt Paddikal is taking the away away from Punjab, Harpreet Brar strikes to dismiss Paddikal, giving PBKS a new lease of life in the match. Paddikal tries to pierce the covers boundary but ends up giving a simple catch to the covers fielder.

RCB 101/2 (10)

Virat Kohli is churning out runs for fun in this season. Apart from the the two consecutive ducks, the Indian veteran has looked in sublime touch in this season and he yet against performs with a 31-bal half-century. Both Virat Kohli and Venkateshwar Iyer are looking in good touch and these are dangerous signs for PBKS.

RCB 131/2 (13)

What an exhibition of hitting by Venkateshwar Iyer (38*) as he takes down Yuzvendra Chahal for two towering sixes in the over but the veteran spinner redeems himself by taking the priced wicket of Virat Kohli, who departs after scoring 58 off 37 balls. It was a much-needed wicket for PBKS, but RCB have a strong base set as they have 7 wickets in hand in the last five overs.

RCB 157/3 (15)

13 runs from the last over third over of Arshdeep Singh. Dangerous signs for PBKS as Venkatesh Iyer and Tim David are looking well-set on the crease. RCB have crossed the 200-run with two over still left. These two overs could decide the fate of the match.

RCB 200/3 (18)

Arshdeep Singh gets the wicket of Tim David on the last ball off the over but he already took 14 runs from the over to take RCB to 222/3 in 20 overs. Venkatesh Iyer slammed a blistering knock of 73 not out off 40 balls and was well-supported by Tim David (28). Both of them forged a 65-run stand for the 4th wicket to assist RCB in posting a mammoth first innings total.

RCB 222/3 (20)

Bhuvneshwar does what he do best and that's picking up wickets with the new ball. The current Purple Cap holder of IPL 2026 gets the wicket of dangerous Priyansh Arya, who tries to clear the mid-on fielder but ends up giving him a simple catch. PBKS are put on the backfoot by RCB from the get-go.

PBKS 5/1 (1)

RCB bowlers are putting on a show here in Dharamsala by picking up three top wickets of PBKS inside the first four overs. Bhuvneshwar Kumar sent both openers back in just two overs and Rasikh Salam chipped in with the biggest wicket of Shreyas Iyer to put Punjab on backfoot in a big chase of 223.

PBKS 23/3 (4)

Punjab Kings made a mini-comeback in the chase as Cooper Connolly and Suryansh Shegde smashed some cracking shots to Josh Hazlewood and Rasikh Salam Dar. Hazlewood gave 15 runs from the 5th over followed by Rasikh Dar's 11 run over.

PBKS 49/3 (6)

Wicket! That's a big blow for Punjab as Cooper Connolly, who was looking dangerous gets caught at the deep mid-wicket boundary for 37. It's a timely wicket for RCB as this partnership was starting to look threatening for them but Romario Shephard got the crucial breakthrough for them.

PBKS 68/4 (8)

That's a huge wicket in the context of the game and maybe it's the match as Suryansh Shedge smashed a rank short pitch ball into straight into the hands of Virat Kohli at the wide long-off boundary. PBKS lose their fifth wicket and with it their chances of winning the match have become slim.

PBKS 93/5 (11)

Shashank Singh has brought life in the chase with scintillating hitting and Marcus Stoinis joined him by smashing two boundaries off the last two balls to take 12 runs from the over. PBKS still need 77 runs to win in just 30 balls.

PBKS 146/5 (15)

Shashank Sharma keeps Punjab in the chase with a 22-ball fifty yet the equation is very difficult as they need 20 runs to win in the last two overs. The 19th over from Josh Hazlewood could be a deciding factor in the match.

PBKS 183/6 (18)

Punjab Kings fail to score 33 runs from the over and eventually lose the match by 23 runs. RCB have won the match and with this win they officially qualify for the playoff and will most probably finish in the top two. Shashank Singh shines with the bat and tries to put a fight with a blistering 56 off 27 balls but it turns out to be too little to less at the end.

PBKS 199/8 (20)

That's a wrap! That's a wrap from our end, we'll be back soon with another blog, until then, bye bye.