There’s no secret that the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in the IPL has often been a batters’ paradise given the smaller boundaries and the pitch conditions that are favourable to the batters. The average first inning score at the venue is 173 while the average 2nd innings score is 153.6.
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings have shared an exciting rivalry with one another and have faced each other 33 times across all seasons in IPL. The Punjab Kings have a slight upper hand with 17 wins, while Royal Challengers Bengaluru have won 16 time. The rivalry is as closely contested as any other rivalry in IPL.
Jitesh Sharma (wk), Rajat Patidar (c), Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Liam Livingstone, Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal
Injury Concerns: None
Impact Sub: Suyash Sharma, Rasikh Salam, Swapnil Singh, Manoj Bhandage, Jacob Bethell
Prabhsimran Singh (wk) Shreyas Iyer (c), Priyansh Arya, Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Shashank Singh, Marco Jansen, Arshdeep Singh, Xavier Bartlett, Yuzvendra Chahal
Injury Concerns: Lockie Ferguson
Impact Subs: Suryansh Shegde, Yash Thakur, Azmatullah Omarzai, Harpeet Brar, Josh Inglis
Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli is once again in sublime form in the Indian Premier League having scored 248 runs in his first six games with a strike rate of 143.34 and an average of 62. Kohli has already scored three half centuries and completed a remarkable 100th T20 fifty against the Rajasthan Royals in their previous encounter in Jaipur.
Josh Hazlewood
Josh Hazlewood missed out on IPL 2024 due to injury but he’s back in 2025 and is back in full form. Hazlewood has already picked up 9 wickets in 6 IPL games and is bowling at a strike rate of 14.56 with an impressive economy of 8.66. He’s Bengaluru’s go to bowler for wickets hence he should be one of the first names in your Dream 11 team.
Shreyas Iyer
When picking a Dream 11 team around Punjab Kings, Shreyas Iyer should be one of the first names on the team sheet as the Punjab Kings skipper is in excellent form scoring 250 runs at an average of 62.5 runs in 6 matches with a strike rate of more than 200.
Yuzvendra Chahal
While, Yuzvendra Chahal was out of form for this IPL campaign, he has roared back to life and back in form with his four wicket haul against the Kolkata Knight Riders. Yuzvendra Chahal should be a top pick for Dream 11 because of his great record at the Chinnaswamy stadium.
The Punjab Kings batter Nehal Wadhera has been very consistent in his performances for the new outfit and is also averaging 47 runs per game. He has the six hitting ability and could once again be a solid pick in a Dream 11 side.
Priyansh Arya is quickly earning a name for himself as one of the most exciting prospects in the IPL thanks to his six hitting ability and consistent performances. His century against CSK is one of the most flamboyant centuries in IPL, hence he is a must have.
While, Jacob Betthell is an excitement prospect in the Royal Challengers Bengaluru lineup it is a player you must avoid as currently he’s not making the starting lineup of RCB. Hence, it will be a waste of credits and spot to select Jacob Betthell.
Liam Livingstone is once again woefully out of form when it comes to the IPL and in the first six games for Royal Challengers Bengaluru he has rarely performed. With only one fifty Livingstone is an expensive and risky choice when there are far consistent and better options available.
Keepers – Prabhsimran Singh, Phil Salt (vc)
Batsmen – Shreyas Iyer (c), Virat Kohli, Priyansh Arya, Rajat Patidar, Nehal Wadhera
All-rounders – Glenn Maxwell, Krunal Pandya
Bowlers – Josh Hazlewood, Yuzvendra Chahal
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