PBKS vs RR, Match 40: Unbeaten Punjab Kings Host Slumping Rajasthan in IPL 2026 Thriller
The last time these two met, Punjab Kings chased down a record 265 runs against Delhi Capitals with 7 balls to spare — now they want to prove that wasn’t a fluke. Tonight, Rajasthan Royals trying to stop Punjab’s historic unbeaten run while fighting to climb back into playoff contention.
Match Info At A Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Tournament | IPL 2026 |
| Match | 40th Match |
| Teams | Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals |
| Date | 27 April 2026 |
| Time | 7:30 PM IST |
| Venue | Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, New Chandigarh |
| Toss Advantage | Chase (dew likely) |
| Weather | Clear |
Head to Head Record
| Stat | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Matches | 30 |
| Rajasthan Royals Wins | 17 |
| Punjab Kings Wins | 13 |
| No Result | 0 |
| Last 5 Meetings | 2-2 (1 NR) |
| Last Match | PBKS won by 8 runs (Match 35, IPL 2026) |
Rajasthan dominates historically with 17 wins, but Punjab has flipped the script recently. The last five meetings split evenly, and PBKS just beat RR by 8 runs in their most recent clash — Priyansh Arya’s all-round show sealed it. At Mullanpur specifically, it’s 1-1, so home advantage isn’t as clear-cut as it seems.
Pitch Report & Conditions
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Pitch Type | Batting-friendly (black-soil wicket) |
| Avg 1st Innings Score | 178 |
| Dew Factor | Likely |
| Best Strategy | Chase |
| PBKS record here | 1-1 (won by 10 runs once) |
| RR record here | 1-1 |
The black-soil wicket at Mullanpur offers consistent bounce and the ball comes onto the bat beautifully. Outfield is quick, but boundaries are large — a fair contest until dew kicks in. The last game here saw 200-plus chased comfortably, confirming batting gets easier in the second innings. For PBKS, this pitch suits their power-hitting depth; for RR, chasing aligns with their middle-order strength.
Team 1 Preview — Punjab Kings
Predicted XI
| # | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prabhsimran Singh (wk) | Opener |
| 2 | Priyansh Arya | Opener |
| 3 | Shreyas Iyer (c) | Top order |
| 4 | Nehal Wadhera | Middle order |
| 5 | Marcus Stoinis | All-rounder |
| 6 | Shashank Singh | All-rounder |
| 7 | Cooper Connolly | All-rounder |
| 8 | Marco Jansen | All-rounder |
| 9 | Xavier Bartlett | Bowler |
| 10 | Arshdeep Singh | Bowler |
| 11 | Yuzvendra Chahal | Spinner |
Strengths
PBKS are the only unbeaten team in IPL 2026 with 6 wins and 1 no result from 8 matches (15 points). They’ve scored 200+ four times this season and chased a record 265 against DC. Their powerplay average is 116/0 — the second-highest in IPL history.
Weakness/Concern
PBKS haven’t faced a bowling attack as deep as RR’s with Archer, Nandre Burger, and Ravi Bishnoi all in form. Their spin defense could be tested if Chahal gets no dew assistance.
Key Player To Watch
Shreyas Iyer — 66 runs away from 4,000 IPL runs, and averaging 45+ this season. He’s scored half-centuries against CSK andMI already, leading from the front.
Team 2 Preview — Rajasthan Royals
Predicted XI
| # | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yashasvi Jaiswal | Opener |
| 2 | Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | Opener |
| 3 | Dhruv Jurel (wk) | Middle order |
| 4 | Riyan Parag (c) | Middle order |
| 5 | Shimron Hetmyer | Finisher |
| 6 | Donovan Ferreira | All-rounder |
| 7 | Ravindra Jadeja | All-rounder |
| 8 | Jofra Archer | Bowler |
| 9 | Nandre Burger | Bowler |
| 10 | Ravi Bishnoi | Spinner |
| 11 | Sandeep Sharma | Bowler |
Strengths
RR have three batters averaging above 45 this IPL — Jaiswal (35.09 career average, 170 runs in first 3 games of 2026). Sooryavanshi just scored a 37-ball 103 against SRH. Their bowling trio of Archer (8 wickets in 6 games), Burger, and Bishnoi is dangerous.
Weakness/Concern
RR have won just 1 of their last 4 matches, losing to SRH by 5 wickets after posting 228/6. They collapsed against GT earlier and struggle bowling first on batting pitches.
Key Player To Watch
Jofra Archer — Just 3 wickets away from becoming RR’s all-time leading wicket-taker (68 scalps now). He took 3/20 against LSK and has 8 wickets at 22.37 average this season.
Key Battles To Watch
Jaiswal vs Arshdeep Singh — Jaiswal has 170 runs in first 3 games of IPL 2026. Arshdeep is PBKS’s primary death bowler but has leaked 10+ runs per over in middle overs against left-handers. If Jaiswal survives the first two overs, he’ll dominate.
Shreyas Iyer vs Ravi Bishnoi — Iyer averages 45+ this season; Bishnoi has 10+ wickets at home in IPL. This middle-over battle will decide if PBKS can maintain their 9.15 run rate.
Sooryavanshi vs Yuzvendra Chahal — The 15-year-old hit 12 sixes in his 103 against SRH. Chahal has 221 career wickets but struggled against young aggressive batters this season.
Our Match Prediction
Punjab Kings win by 15-20 runs.
Three facts back this:
- PBKS are unbeaten (6W, 1NR) with a +0.850 NRR — RR won only 1 of last 4
- PBKS scored 200+ four times this season; RR collapsed against similar bowling
- At Mullanpur, PBKS won by 10 runs once; their powerplay (116/0 avg) is IPL’s best
RR’s batting is scary, but PBKS’s tempo in powerplay and chase record (4/4 successful chases) gives them the edge.
Where to Watch
The match will be televised on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 2 and Star Sports 1 Hindi from 7:30 PM IST. Live streaming is on JioHotstar. UK viewers can catch it on Sky Sports Cricket; Australian fans can watch on Fox Cricket or Kayo Sports; US and Canada viewers can watch on Willow TV.
The Bottom Line
Unbeaten PBKS fight for top spot; slumping RR need a miracle — and Mullanpur’s batting track favors the team that strikes first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who will win PBKS vs RR IPL 2026 Match 40?
A: Punjab Kings — by 15-20 runs. Their unbeaten form and powerplay dominance give them the edge.
Q: What is the head to head record between PBKS and RR?
A: RR lead 17-13 in 30 matches, but last 5 meetings are 2-2 (1 NR).
Q: What time does PBKS vs RR start today?
A: 7:30 PM IST on 27 April 2026.
Q: What is the pitch report for Mullanpur today?
A: Batting-friendly black-soil wicket, avg first-innings 178, dew likely — chasing is better.
Q: Who are the key players to watch in PBKS vs RR?
A: Shreyas Iyer (PBKS captain, 66 runs from 4,000-milestone); Jofra Archer (RR’s all-time leading wicket-taker, 68 scalps); Yashasvi Jaiswal (170 runs in first 3 games).
References
CricTracker — PBKS vs RR Head-to-Head & Prediction — https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-match-predictions/ipl-2026-match-40-pbks-vs-rr-match-prediction-who-will-win-todays-ipl-matc
Cricbuzz — Match 40 Live Score — https://www.cricbuzz.com/live-cricket-scores/151943/pbks-vs-rr-40th-match-indian-premier-league-2026
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