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Indian Premier LeagueResult
Punjab Kings

Punjab Kings

176/6
Royal Challengers Bangalore

Royal Challengers Bangalore

178/6

M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru · Monday, 25 March 2024

Royal Challengers Bangalore won by 4 wicketsPlayer of the match: V Kohli

Match preview

RCB edge Punjab Kings by 4 wickets in Chinnaswamy thriller

Match overview

Royal Challengers Bangalore beat Punjab Kings by 4 wickets at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on 25 March 2024, successfully chasing a target of 177 in the IPL. Punjab Kings had posted 176/6 batting first, a score built largely on a strong middle-overs phase of 88 runs. RCB's reply was tense: they lost wickets throughout the chase but their death-overs batting delivered 60 runs in the final phase to see them home. V Kohli was named Player of the Match.

The toss shaped the contest. Royal Challengers Bangalore elected to field, a choice consistent with the ground's history: 76% of toss winners at Chinnaswamy opt to chase, and the venue's chase success rate across 142 matches is 55%. On this occasion, the pattern held. RCB finished on 178/6, four runs ahead of Punjab's total, with 4 wickets in hand.

For context on the rivalry, this win moved RCB ahead in the all-time head-to-head to 19 wins from 37 meetings, with Punjab Kings on 18.

Venue and conditions

M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru is one of the highest-scoring T20 venues in the IPL. The average first-innings score across 142 matches here is 196, and even second-innings totals average 177. Batting first carries risk: teams posting under 180 are vulnerable, as this match demonstrated.

The powerplay at Chinnaswamy averages 43 runs, and the death overs average 40. Punjab Kings' powerplay of 40 runs was just below the venue norm, which placed extra pressure on their middle overs to build a total. They responded well, scoring 88 between overs 7 and 16. RCB's powerplay was 50 runs from 2 wickets, a strong start that gave them a platform above the venue average.

Dew can become a factor in evening matches at the ground, which further advantages the chasing side when conditions are humid. The toss-field preference of 76% at this venue reflects how ingrained that tactical knowledge is across IPL franchises.

How to watch

IPL matches are broadcast in the United Kingdom on Sky Sports Cricket. Subscribers can access live coverage via Sky Go or stream through a NOW TV day or month pass. Fixtures in India typically start at either 15:30 or 19:30 IST, which translates to 10:00 or 14:00 UK time respectively. Check Sky Sports' schedule for confirmation of each match's UK broadcast time.

Highlights and clips are available through the IPL's official digital channels for those unable to watch live.

Recent form

Going into this fixture, Punjab Kings had won their previous IPL outing in the 2024 season against Delhi Capitals, though their 2023 record showed a mixed run: two wins and three losses from their last five matches across both seasons, with defeats to Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals, and Kolkata Knight Riders in that sequence.

Royal Challengers Bangalore's immediate form was less encouraging on paper. They had lost to Chennai Super Kings in their preceding 2024 match, and their 2023 run featured two wins against Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals, offset by losses to Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians. Neither side came into this fixture riding a strong streak, which made the home advantage and toss decision potentially more significant than form alone. On the night, RCB's batting depth and familiarity with Chinnaswamy's conditions proved sufficient.

Talking points

What to look out for

5 angles

Headline angle

RCB's death overs sealed the chase

Royal Challengers Bangalore scored 60 runs in the death overs of their chase, the highest of any phase in the innings. Punjab Kings managed only 48 in the equivalent phase while batting. Those 12 runs across the last four overs were effectively the difference in a match decided by a single delivery's worth of margin.

Angle 02

Punjab Kings' middle overs did the heavy lifting

Punjab Kings accumulated 88 runs between overs 7 and 16 at the cost of 3 wickets, the backbone of their 176/6. The powerplay yielded just 40 runs and 1 wicket, meaning the middle phase carried disproportionate weight in setting a competitive total.

Angle 03

RCB won the toss and backed their chase record

Royal Challengers Bangalore elected to field, a decision backed by data: Chinnaswamy's chase success rate stands at 55% across 142 matches at the ground. The toss-and-field strategy is well-established here, with 76% of toss winners choosing to chase.

Angle 04

Kohli the standout individual on his home ground

V Kohli took the Player of the Match award, underlining the significance of his contribution to the successful chase. RCB required 177 runs, and the result came with 4 wickets in hand.

Angle 05

Rivalry tilts narrowly towards RCB across 37 meetings

RCB now lead this head-to-head 19 wins to 18 across 37 meetings, with no no-results. It is among the tighter rivalries in the IPL, with Punjab holding their own over the long run despite the recent run of RCB results.

Context

Key insights

Historical · Not official

Venue par

196

Avg 1st innings score at Chinnaswamy

142 matches · 2001–2026

Chase success

55%

Chases completed successfully at Chinnaswamy

142 matches · 2001–2026

Head to head

18 — 19

Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bangalore — 37 meetings

2007–2025

Punjab Kings at venue

43%

Win rate across 14 matches at Chinnaswamy

Royal Challengers Bangalore at venue

49%

Win rate across 97 matches at Chinnaswamy

Powerplay

45/1.2

Average runs/wickets in overs 1–6 at Chinnaswamy

Historical aggregates derived from Cricsheet (cricsheet.org) under ODC-BY licence. 2001/02–2026 IPL seasons. For editorial context only — not official live match data, not a forecast, and not betting advice. Projections and comparisons above are frozen from the live state and may not match final statistics.

The rivalry

Who could decide it

Royal Challengers Bangalore and Punjab Kings have met 37 times in the IPL, with RCB edging the record at 19 wins to Punjab's 18. No match has ended without a result. Recent momentum has swung firmly towards RCB, who have won four of the last five encounters between the sides.

Recent meetings

Last 5
  • 2025: Royal Challengers Bangalore won by 6 runs at Narendra Modi Stadium
  • 2025: Royal Challengers Bangalore won by 8 wickets at Mullanpur
  • 2025: Royal Challengers Bangalore won by 7 wickets at Mullanpur
  • 2024: Punjab Kings won by 5 wickets at Chinnaswamy
  • 2024: Royal Challengers Bangalore won by 60 runs at Dharamsala
RG Sharma

Key player · Not applicable for this fixture

RG Sharma

Included in the players pool with an ODI high of 209 off 158 balls, Rohit Sharma's record illustrates the kind of destructive top-order batting that can shift a T20 chase inside the powerplay. His presence in any lineup at Chinnaswamy demands attention given the ground's pace-friendly surface.

Full career stats
JJ Bumrah

Not applicable for this fixture

JJ Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah's Test figures of 8/47 across 19 overs highlight a bowler capable of exploiting any surface. In T20 cricket, his ability to operate at the death makes him relevant at a ground where death-over run rates are historically high.

Career stats →
R Ashwin

Not applicable for this fixture

R Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin's figures of 8/125 across 61.7 overs in Test cricket reflect his capacity for sustained pressure. At Chinnaswamy, where the pitch can assist spin in the middle overs, his role in T20 contexts is worth monitoring.

Career stats →
SR Tendulkar

Not applicable for this fixture

SR Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar's record of 267 off 440 balls in a Test context speaks to a batter who built innings methodically under pressure. The Chinnaswamy crowd has historically responded to big individual performances, and his legacy at the ground is part of what makes landmark innings here feel significant.

Career stats →

Angles to watch

Analytical angles worth tracking

Observations from the venue data, recent form and historical trends. Editorial context, not betting advice.

  • Top batter markets may offer more editorial interest than outright result lines at Chinnaswamy, given the ground's high average first-innings score of 196 across 142 matches.
  • Death-overs performance is a key differentiator at this venue. The average of 40 death-over runs suggests teams that execute in overs 17-20 tend to control outcomes.
  • The toss carries weight here. With 76% of toss winners choosing to field and a 55% chase success rate, markets tied to first-innings scores and powerplay runs may reflect conditions more accurately than pre-toss lines.
  • Player of the Match markets at batter-friendly venues like Chinnaswamy historically lean towards top-order batters rather than bowlers, given the average first-innings total of 196.

For editorial context only. Not a forecast and not betting advice. 18+ only, please gamble responsibly.

Questions

Frequently asked

Royal Challengers Bangalore won by 4 wickets. Chasing 177, RCB reached 178/6 to take the match. V Kohli was named Player of the Match.

Punjab Kings posted 176/6 batting first. Royal Challengers Bangalore replied with 178/6 in their chase. RCB won with 4 wickets remaining.

Across 37 IPL meetings, Royal Challengers Bangalore lead 19 wins to Punjab Kings' 18. No match between the two sides has ended without a result. RCB have won four of the last five encounters.

IPL fixtures are broadcast in the UK on Sky Sports Cricket. Subscribers can stream via Sky Go or NOW TV. Coverage typically begins shortly before the scheduled start time in India, which falls in the early evening for UK viewers.

Across 142 matches at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, the average first-innings score is 196 and the average second-innings score is 177. The chase success rate stands at 55%, making it a reasonably balanced venue for both sides.

V Kohli was named Player of the Match after Royal Challengers Bangalore's 4-wicket victory over Punjab Kings at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on 25 March 2024.

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