IPL 2026: Punjab Kings Opt To Bowl Against RCB As Rajat Patidar Misses Out

In the 61st match of the Indian Premier League 2026 season, Punjab Kings won the toss and chose to bowl against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala on Sunday.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru were without their regular captain, Rajat Patidar, who missed the match. In his absence, wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma assumed leadership duties.

The team made adjustments, bringing in Suyash Sharma and Romario Shepherd to replace Patidar and Jacob Duffy.

Punjab Kings, led by Shreyas Iyer, also made two changes to the starting XI. The side included Harpreet Brar and Lockie Ferguson in the revised lineup.

Following the toss, Iyer stated that the decision was based on reading match situations rather than relying on past statistics. He acknowledged the significance of leading his side in his 100th match as captain.

Iyer also underlined the importance of staying composed in pressure situations.

Jitesh Sharma said RCB would have preferred to chase but remained optimistic about the pitch conditions remaining consistent.

Sharma noted that Patidar is performing well and may return soon, while stressing that the team is delivering collectively. He added that securing a win in this match would guarantee a playoff spot and could impact the standings for several teams.

Punjab Kings made a strong start to the tournament, securing victories in six of their first seven games. They have since struggled, losing five matches in a row, which has put their playoff chances at risk. They are currently placed fourth with 13 points from 12 matches and need a turnaround.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru, featuring Virat Kohli, have been among the standout teams this season, registering eight wins in 12 outings.

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

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

Also Read: IPL 2026: Finn Allen, Raghuvanshi Power KKR To Massive 247/2 Against Gujarat Titans