Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals Prediction & Match Preview – IPL 2026, 40th Match
Match summary
Our IPL 2026 preview of Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals at Mullanpur: form, key batters and bowlers, likely XIs, pitch, weather and our pick.
Match details
| Match | Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals, 40th Match |
|---|---|
| Series | Indian Premier League 2026 |
| Date | 28 Apr 2026 |
| Start time | 2:00 pm GMT / 7:30 pm local |
| Venue | Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, New Chandigarh |
| Status | Played |
| Our pick | Punjab Kings |
| Toss pick | Punjab Kings |
Matches in this series
Match preview
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.
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.
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.
Punjab Kings
Punjab top the table with six wins from six completed games, while Rajasthan have won only one of their last four.
Toss pick: Punjab Kings
FAQ
When is Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals?
The 40th match of IPL 2026 is on Tuesday 28 April 2026 at Mullanpur, with a 7:30 pm local start.
Who does our preview pick?
Our preview picks Punjab Kings to win, and expects them to win the toss.
Will dew affect the match?
Dew may form later in the evening, which could help the side batting second.
Probable XIs
Expected line-ups from our preview. c = captain, wk = wicketkeeper.
Punjab Kings
- Prabhsimran Singhwk
- Priyansh Arya
- Cooper Connolly
- Shreyas Iyerc
- Shashank Singh
- Marcus Stoinis
- Marco Jansen
- Xavier Bartlett
- Vijaykumar Vyshak
- Arshdeep Singh
- Yuzvendra Chahal
Rajasthan Royals
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
- Dhruv Jurelwk
- Riyan Paragc
- Shimron Hetmyer
- Donovan Ferreira
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Jofra Archer
- Tushar Deshpande
- Nandre Burger
- Brijesh Sharma