Our betting expert has three Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru tips for Qualifier 1 of the Indian Premier League playoffs, which starts at 15:00 at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium. Scroll down for the analysis behind his selections.
By Luke Seychell
Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Betting Tips
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru @ 10/11 with Paddy Power
- Virat Kohli top Royal Challengers Bengaluru batter @ 15/8 with William Hill
- Arshdeep Singh to take at least two wickets @ 7/4 with bet365
RCB the pick
Neither Punjab KIngs or Royal Challengers Bengaluru have ever won the Indian Premier League, but the pair topped the regular season table so at least one of them is guaranteed a place in the final this term.
The loser of this game will have a second chance of getting into the final as they will take on the winner of the Eliminator.
Both teams had similar campaigns on paper, winning nine and losing four of their 14 matches, with the pair both seeing one game each rained off as well.
They also ended up with an almost identical net run rate, Punjab had the edge on 0.372 compared to RCB’s 0.301.
However, when the two met at this ground last month, the visitors ran out comfortable seven-wicket victors.
The Kings have lost Marco Jansen, Azmatullah Omarzai and Mitch Owen, and while they have excelled with the bat, they could come up short on what may be a tricky pitch.
Josh Hazlewood’s return is a huge boost for this RCB side and he could make the difference here. RCB have won four of the last five meetings between these two teams and are fancied to extend that run with another success.
- Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru tip 1: Royal Challengers Bengaluru @ 10/11 with Paddy Power
- Power Prices, Wonder Wheel & Acca Insurance among a range of top offers
- Innovative Super Sub offer means bets roll over to the player coming on
Kohli key once again
Virat Kohli has been RCB’s talisman since the team’s inception in 2008 and he would love more than anyone to lead this side to the title after so many near misses, finishing as IPL runners-up on three occasions.
Their star batsman has been in fine form this season, having made a whopping eight half-centuries, and ranks fifth in the competition in total with 602 runs.
Kohli recently retired from Test cricket, and while his time at the top may be coming to an end at some point in the future, he is still a potent operator at this level and is fancied to lead RCB to glory, so side with Kohli to be his side’s top scorer in this clash.
- Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru tip 2: Virat Kohli top Royal Challengers Bengaluru batter @ 15/8 with William Hill
- Reliable Bookmaker
- Plenty of promotions accessible
Singh to star for hosts
Arshdeep Singh undoubtedly poses one of the biggest threats of any Punjab Kings bowler in this line-up. He has 18 wickets in this IPL season, which ranks as fifth-most in the competition this term.
He has already taken three wickets against RCB in two matches and has a strong record against opener Phil Salt in 2025, dismissing him five times in just 32 deliveries for club and country.
Side with Singh to take at least two wickets on a surface that should offer plenty of encouragement to the bowlers.
- Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru tip 3: Arshdeep Singh to take at least two wickets @ 7/4 with bet365
- Multiple BC UK Bookmaker Awards winner, including Best Bookmaker
- Attractive promos, including boosted odds & free games
