Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru are set to lock horns with each other in the crucial IPL 2026 game in Dharamsala. RCB are a win away from the playoff qualification and PBKS need a win to stay alive in the playoff contention. This is the first time last season's finalists are facing each other in IPL 2026, so fans are expecting a thrilling encounter at the HPCA Stadium.
Also read: Dharamsala Pitch Report
IPL 2026 Match 61: PBKS vs RCB Live Score and Match Updates
RCB Playing XI - 2 changes
Suyash Sharma replaces injured captain Rajat Patidar and Romario Shepherd returns in place of Jacob Duffy. Rasikh Dar starts from the bench.
RCB XI (batting first): Jacob Bethell, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Venkatesh Iyer, Jitesh Sharma (c & wk), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma
Impact players: Rasikh Salam, Jordan Cox, Abhinandan Singh, Swapnil Singh, Kanishk Chouhan
PBKS Playing XI - 2 changes
Punjab Kings make 2 changes to their playing XI. Lockie Ferguson replaces Xavier Bartlett and Harpreet Brar comes in place of Marco Jansen. Punjab start with 3 overseas players.
PBKS XI (bowling first): Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (c), Suryansh Shedge, Shashank Singh, Azmatullah Omarzai, Harpreet Brar, Lockie Ferguson, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal
Impact players: Marcus Stoinis, Xavier Bartlett, Vishnu Vinod, Musheer Khan, Praveen Dubey
Toss time
Captains Shreyas Iyer and Jitesh Sharma are out in the middle of the toss at HPCA Stadium.
Shreyas wins the toss and Punjab Kings decide to bowl first today
Harpreet Brar and Lockie Ferguson come in for PBKS. Suyash Sharma, Romario Shepherd return for RCB.
Jitesh Sharma to captain RCB today
A major blow to RCB ahead of the toss. Captain Rajat Patidar hasn't travelled to Dharamsala and is out of today's game. Jitesh Sharma is set to lead RCB side today.
Head-to-Head Record
RCB lead the head-to-head record against PBKS with 19 wins in 37 IPL games. RCB have won four of their last five games against PBKS and are favourites to win today.
- Matches played - 37
- RCB won - 19
- PBKS won - 18
- NR - 0
Will Phil Salt play today?
No. Phil Salt remains in England as he takes more time to recover from his finger injury. Jacob Bethell will continue to open with Virat Kohli for RCB today.
RCB eye early playoff spot
Royal Challengers Bengaluru comfortably sit at the top of the points table after GT's loss yesterday. RCB will secure a playoff spot with a win today and potentially a spot in Qualifier 1.
RCB recorded a dominant six-wicket win against KKR in their last match. Virat Kohli overcame two consecutive ducks with his 9th IPL century to put Bengaluru on the verge of playoff qualification.
PBKS seek survival
Punjab Kings started with six wins in their first seven games and dominated the points table in the first half of the season, but are now struggling to secure a playoff spot. With 13 points in 12 games, the Punjab Kings are placed 4th in the points table, and a defeat today will further damage their top-four chances in IPL 2026.
Shreyas Iyer's side suffered a six-wicket defeat against Mumbai Indians in their last match. It was Punjab's fifth consecutive defeat and the second in Dharamsala. PBKS will look to end their losing run and avenge their 2025 final loss against RCB today.
Dharamsala host crucial game
Hello everyone, welcome to Sports Yaari's live coverage of today's IPL game in Dharamsala.
Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru are facing each other in the 61st match of the season at HPCA Stadium. With both teams seeking two crucial points, fans are expected to witness a thrilling encounter today.
So, stay tuned for live scores and match updates here...