PBKS Opt to Bowl Against RCB in Crucial IPL 2026 Clash; Jitesh Sharma Leads Bengaluru in Patidar’s Absence

Dharamsala, May 2026 : Punjab Kings won the toss and elected to bowl first against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Match 61 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala on Sunday, in what is being seen as a crucial encounter in the race to the playoffs.

Punjab skipper Shreyas Iyer chose to field first, backing his bowling attack to make early inroads on a pitch expected to remain good for batting throughout the match. The contest also carries additional significance for both teams as the playoff battle enters its decisive phase.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru are being led by wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma, with regular captain Rajat Patidar unavailable for the match. RCB made two changes to their playing XI, bringing in leg-spinner Suyash Sharma for Patidar and all-rounder Romario Shepherd in place of pacer Jacob Duffy.

Punjab Kings also made two important changes, with left-arm spinner Harpreet Brar and pace bowler Lockie Ferguson returning to the side.

Shreyas Iyer eyes milestone win

Speaking after the toss, Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer said his decision was based more on current match conditions than statistics.

“We’re going to bowl. I’m not really going by the stats; we’re clearly seeing how games are unfolding. If we bat and bowl well, the toss doesn’t matter,” Iyer said.

The PBKS skipper also revealed that he was unaware the match marked his 100th game as captain in T20 cricket.

“I seriously had no clue this was my 100th game as a captain, but it feels great. It’s a wonderful opportunity for me to win my 100th game,” he added.

Iyer praised his bowling unit for its overall performance during the season but stressed the importance of handling pressure situations calmly.

“The bowling has been fantastic, but there are pressure moments where execution becomes important. You can’t change the past or predict the future. The beauty is to stay in the moment and enjoy the pressure,” he said.

Punjab Kings have endured a difficult run after a strong start to the season. The side had won six of its opening seven matches and looked among the strongest contenders in IPL 2026. However, five consecutive defeats have put their playoff hopes under pressure. PBKS currently sit fourth on the points table with 13 points from 12 matches and will be desperate to end their losing streak.

RCB target playoff qualification

Royal Challengers Bengaluru, meanwhile, have been among the most consistent teams this season. They have won eight of their 12 matches and are on the verge of securing a playoff berth.

Speaking at the toss, stand-in captain Jitesh Sharma said RCB would also have preferred to bowl first but remained confident about batting on the Dharamsala surface.

“We would have loved to bowl first, but the wicket looks very good and should remain nice for batting for all 40 overs,” Jitesh said.

He also provided an update on regular skipper Rajat Patidar.

“Rajat is doing fantastic and we should see him in Hyderabad,” he added.

Jitesh praised the balance and consistency within the RCB squad and acknowledged the importance of the match.

“We are at the business end of the tournament and I’m happy with how the team is performing, both individually and collectively. One win tonight secures our playoff spot, so it’s a massive game for us,” he said.

He further pointed out that the result could significantly influence the standings.

“This win can change the entire points table — not just for us, but for several other teams as well,” he remarked.

RCB come into the contest high on confidence after defeating Kolkata Knight Riders in their previous match, powered by a magnificent century from Virat Kohli.

Teams

Punjab Kings Playing XI:
Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (c), Suryansh Shedge, Shashank Singh, Azmatullah Omarzai, Harpreet Brar, Lockie Ferguson, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal

Impact Substitutes:
Marcus Stoinis, Xavier Bartlett, Vishnu Vinod, Praveen Dubey, Musheer Khan

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Playing XI:
Jacob Bethell, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Jitesh Sharma (c & wk), Venkatesh Iyer, Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Suyash Sharma, Josh Hazlewood

Impact Substitutes:
Rasikh Dar, Jordan Cox, Abhinandan Singh, Swapnil Singh, Kaushik Chauhan