Match overview
Royal Challengers Bangalore beat Punjab Kings by 7 wickets at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur on 20 April 2025. Punjab posted 157 for 6 after a promising powerplay of 62 for 1, but a middle-overs collapse of 5 wickets for 57 runs between overs 7 and 15 left their total short of what that start deserved. RCB made light work of the chase, scoring 68 for 1 in the same phase and reaching 159 for 3. Virat Kohli won the Player of the Match award in a result that extended RCB's recent dominance over their northern rivals.
The result means Royal Challengers Bangalore have now won four of their last five meetings with Punjab Kings across all venues, and both clashes at Mullanpur in 2025. From 37 all-time meetings, RCB lead 19 to 18. A lead they have built almost entirely during the last 12 months.
Venue and conditions
The Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium is still a relatively young IPL venue, and 14 matches here give a decent picture of how it plays. The average first-innings score of 175 suggests this surface is generally batter-friendly, though Punjab's 157 fell well below that benchmark. Teams choosing to field first have done so in 71% of matches. RCB followed the majority and were vindicated.
The powerplay tends to produce around 56 runs on average at this ground. Punjab's 62 from the first six overs was above par, making their subsequent collapse all the more costly. The death overs average 42 runs at Mullanpur, and Punjab's 38 in that phase without losing a wicket was solid but irrelevant given the damage done in the middle. Chasing sides have won exactly half their matches here, so the toss advantage is real but not decisive.
RCB's phase-by-phase chase told a different story. Their powerplay of 54 for 1 was slightly below the venue average, but they more than compensated in the middle with 68 for 1. By the time the death arrived, just 37 were needed, which removed any meaningful pressure.
How to watch
IPL 2025 is broadcast in the United Kingdom on Sky Sports Cricket, with live streaming available through Sky Go and NOW TV. Given India is five and a half hours ahead of BST, day matches in India typically begin around mid-morning UK time, while evening fixtures in India tend to start at approximately 14:30 BST. Check the Sky Sports schedule for exact listings as the tournament progresses through the playoff stages.
Recent form
Punjab Kings came into this match with mixed momentum. Their recent results show three wins and two defeats across five matches in 2025, including a win over Royal Challengers Bangalore earlier in the competition. That previous victory over RCB at Chinnaswamy. One of only two wins for Punjab in the last five head-to-head contests. Had given them some confidence heading into this fixture.
RCB's own form was similarly inconsistent: three wins and two losses in their last five, with defeats to Punjab Kings, Delhi Capitals and Gujarat Titans. That choppiness made the convincing nature of this win more notable. When the phase splits go their way, this RCB side can look a very different outfit to the one that has struggled in patches. For Punjab, the question after this result is straightforward: a powerplay of 62 for 1 should set up a total well above 157, and fixing the middle-overs fragility is the priority before the business end of the tournament.
