PBKS vs RCB IPL 2025 Live: Kohli-Dhawan Showdown, Playing XI, Toss Update, Fantasy Picks & Streaming Info

A spot in the IPL 2025 final is on the line as Punjab Kings (PBKS) lock horns with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Qualifier 1 at the state-of-the-art Mullanpur Stadium, Chandigarh. Both teams finished the league phase on 19 points, separated only by net run rate, underscoring how evenly matched this rivalry has become. Head-to-head, PBKS hold a slender 18-17 edge over RCB across 35 clashes, and the margin encapsulates the razor-thin gap that viewers can expect tonight. Venue and pitch report • Mullanpur’s red-soil strip produced first-innings scores of 190+ in two of its last three outings, offering true bounce for stroke-makers while keeping quicks interested with new-ball nip. • Dew has been light this week, so captains may lean toward batting first in a knockout scenario to avoid score-board pressure. Probable playing XIs PBKS: Shikhar Dhawan (c), Jonny Bairstow, Prabhsimran Singh, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Shashank Singh, Harpreet Brar, Harshal Patel, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh. RCB: Faf du Plessis (c), Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, Mahipal Lomror, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Cameron Green, Karn Sharma, Mohammed Siraj, Yash Dayal, Reece Topley. Players to watch • Virat Kohli – the Orange Cap holder with 716 runs, including three hundreds, has carried RCB’s batting on difficult surfaces. • Sam Curran – PBKS’ stand-in finisher has struck at 158 and picked up 14 wickets, making him a double-barrel threat in middle overs. • Harshal Patel – reclaiming his “death-overs specialist” tag, the right-arm seamer tops the bowling charts with 24 scalps, 17 of them after the 14th over. Key match-ups 1. Rabada vs Kohli: the South African speedster has dismissed Kohli four times in T20s; expect hard lengths in the powerplay. 2. Harpreet Brar vs Maxwell: the left-arm spinner kept Maxwell to a strike-rate of 93 in two meetings this season; PBKS may deploy him as soon as Maxwell walks in. Recent form snapshot • PBKS: W W W L W – peaked at the back end, riding high on Livingstone’s late fireworks. • RCB: W W W W L – bounced back from a mid-season slump with resurgent batting depth. What’s at stake The winner books a direct ticket to Sunday’s grand finale, while the loser gets one more lifeline in Qualifier 2. Given the parity between the sides, a blockbuster contest under lights is almost guaranteed for fans tracking “PBKS vs RCB live score,” “IPL 2025 playoffs,” and “Qualifier 1 highlights.” Fantasy and betting tips • Captain pick: Virat Kohli – safe floor plus century potential. • Differential: Shashank Singh – strike-rate of 204 against spin gives upside if PBKS chase. • Bowling punt: Mohammed Siraj – economical at the death (7.8 RPO) and swinging it upfront on fresh wickets. Streaming & broadcast Live telecast starts 7:30 PM IST on the official IPL broadcaster, with digital streaming on the league’s OTT platform in HD and 4K. Ball-by-ball commentary is also available on the official IPL website and app. Stay tuned for real-time updates, post-match analysis, and highlight reels as PBKS and RCB battle for the coveted first final berth of IPL 2025.