Punjab Kings will take on Rajasthan Royals in the 40th match of IPL 2026 at the Maharaja Yadvendra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur. PBKS have emerged as one of the most impressive teams this season, while RR are dependent on explosive starts to remain competitive. These fantasy cricket tips for IPL 2026 will help you make a strong Dream11 prediction.
Punjab Kings have been unbeaten this season, playing as a complete unit under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer. Their opening pair of Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh has been the most aggressive in the league, consistently giving good starts. The middle-order is well balanced, anchored by Iyer and Cooper Connolly, while finishers like Marcus Stoinis and Shashank Singh have performed well in difficult conditions. Their bowling has been effective under Arshdeep Singh, although the spin remains a bit inconsistent.
Rajasthan Royals, on the other hand, have relied heavily on their explosive top order. Vaibhav Suryavanshi has been sensational, with Yashasvi Jaiswal supporting him at the top. However, their middle order struggled to finish games, costing them key matches. Their strength lies in their pace attack, with Jofra Archer and Nandre Berger forming one of the best powerplay bowling units this season.
matching details
| match | Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals |
| tournament | indian premier league 2026 |
| venue | Maharaja Yadvendra Singh International Cricket Stadium Mullanpur, New Chandigarh |
| date | 28 April 2026 |
| Time | 7:30 PM (IST) and 2:00 PM (GMT) |
pitch report
The Mullanpur pitch has been one of the highest scoring venues in IPL 2026. The surface provides genuine bounce and allows the batsmen to play freely.
The average score in the first innings is around 210-212, making it a batting friendly ground. Fast bowlers may find some movement early on, but the pitch quickly becomes flat. Spinners need to rely on variation as turn is limited. The light dew factor in the second innings gives an edge to the chasing teams, so the captain who wins the toss may prefer to bowl first.
Top players will be kept an eye on in this match
1. Vaibhav Suryavanshi (RR)
Vaibhav Suryavanshi is in great form and is scoring runs at a very high strike rate. His fearless approach and ability to dominate the bowlers makes him a top fantasy choice and a strong captaincy option.
2. Shreyas Iyer (PBKS)
Shreyas Iyer has been the backbone of PBKS’s batting lineup. His consistency and ability to control innings make him a reliable fantasy option, especially in high-scoring games.
3. Jofra Archer (RR)
Jofra Archer has been a standout performer with the ball, especially in the powerplay. His ability to take early wickets makes him a valuable fantasy asset even on batting-friendly pitches.
PBKS vs RR Dream11 Prediction Fantasy Team
- wicketkeepers: Prabhsimran Singh, Dhruv Jurel
- batsmen: Shreyas Iyer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Priyansh Arya
- all rounder: Marcus Stoinis, Ravindra Jadeja, Donovan Ferreira
- bowlers: Arshdeep Singh, Joffra Archer
- captain: Shreyas Iyer
- vice captain: Vaibhav Suryavanshi
Both teams have strong batting lineups, so another high-scoring thriller is expected. For your Dream11 predictions in IPL 2026, focus on top-order batsmen and impressive bowlers.
