The Punjab Kings host the defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala on May 17 in Match 61 of the 2026 Indian Premier League.

The Kings come into this clash on the back of their fifth successive loss of the season. They started the season winning six of their seven games, but have hit a significant roadblock which has the potential to derail their season entirely. They come into this clash with 13 points from 12 games, and will need wins in their final two matches to seal a playoff spot. They were beaten by the Mumbai Indians on May 14 at Dharamshala, where they failed to defend a total of 201.

RCB have been one of the form teams of the season. They have 16 points in 12 games and have all but sealed their place in the playoffs. A victory for them would ensure they are closer to a top-two finish, which guarantees them the cushion in the playoffs. They come off a dominant victory against the Kolkata Knight Riders in Raipur, where they chased down a total of 193 courtesy a masterful century from Virat Kohli.

The two teams met last in the final of the 2025 season. On that occasion, it was the Royal Challengers who prevailed to lift their first-ever IPL trophy after an 18-year wait. This is the first time these two teams are meeting in 2026, and once again, with the circumstances surrounding the clash, this promises to be yet another mouthwatering encounter. 

• Prabhsimran Singh: Needs 8 sixes for 100 IPL sixes
• Cooper Connolly: Needs 64 runs for 500 IPL runs
• Cooper Connolly: Needs 8 fours for 100 T20 fours
• Shreyas Iyer: Needs 26 runs for 7000 T20 runs

Royal Challengers Bengaluru

• Jacob Bethell: Needs 72 runs for 2000 T20 runs
• Devdutt Padikkal: Needs 2 runs for 1500 runs for RCB
• Rajat Patidar: Needs 52 runs for 1500 IPL runs
• Rajat Patidar: Needs 6 fours for 100 IPL fours
• Rajat Patidar: Needs 1 six for 100 IPL sixes
• Jacob Duffy: Needs 5 wickets for 200 T20 wickets