Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals Prediction & Match Preview – IPL 2026, 40th Match

Punjab Kings head into the 40th match of IPL 2026 as the standout side of the season, top of the table with six wins from six completed matches and one no-result. Their latest win was a chase of 266 against Delhi Capitals in 19 overs, reported as the highest successful chase in T20 history.

Prabhsimran Singh has 287 runs in six innings at a strike rate close to 200, including 76 off 26 in that game. Captain Shreyas Iyer has 279 at an average near 70, Priyansh Arya is dangerous against spin, and Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh and Marcus Stoinis add finishing power. Arshdeep Singh and Vijaykumar Vyshak lead the bowling, with Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett and Yuzvendra Chahal in support.

Rajasthan Royals won their first four but have taken just one win from their last four, and sit fourth after a loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad in which they could not defend a massive total. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has 357 runs at a strike rate of 235, including 103 off 37, while Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel have been steady. Riyan Parag and Shimron Hetmyer are short of form. Jofra Archer has 13 wickets, and Rajasthan may bring back Sandeep Sharma. Our preview backs Punjab Kings.

Probable playing XI

Pitch report

The pitch at Mullanpur offers a fairly balanced contest. Fast bowlers can find some movement and bounce early, and the surface can be slightly two-paced, making timing harder in the middle overs. As it slows, spinners and bowlers with variations become more effective. It is not usually a very high-scoring ground, and totals of 160–180 are considered competitive.

Weather

Temperatures should be around 28–32°C under partly cloudy skies, with moderate humidity and some dew possible later. There is a slight chance of light rain or a passing thunderstorm, though play should mostly go ahead. A gentle breeze may help seamers early.

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