Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are looking to quickly bounce back after suffering a humiliating defeat to Punjab Kings (PBKS) in their previous IPL 2025 encounter. RCB will face PBKS again on April 20, just a day after being handed one of their worst losses of the season. The Bangalore-based franchise is making a bold move in the lineup, replacing struggling all-rounder Liam Livingstone with the explosive Romario Shepherd, who is expected to bolster their lower middle order and provide the much-needed firepower.
RCB’s batting collapse in their last match was nothing short of disastrous, with the team being bowled out for a mere 95 runs, losing by 5 wickets. This performance raised serious concerns regarding their batting depth, particularly in the lower middle order. Shepherd, known for his aggressive batting style, is likely to play a key role in the latter stages of the innings, where RCB desperately needs to accelerate and post challenging totals. His inclusion signals a shift towards a more intent-heavy approach, with the hope that his power-hitting can change the dynamics of their middle-to-late order.
Despite being bought for Rs 1.50 crore during the IPL 2025 mega auction, Shepherd had not yet made it into the playing XI until now. His debut in the RCB colors comes at a crucial juncture, as the team aims to recover from their recent batting woes. On the other hand, Livingstone, while showing flashes of brilliance this season, has struggled with consistency, which led to his omission in favor of the hard-hitting Shepherd.
Meanwhile, Punjab Kings are opting for continuity, sticking with the same playing XI that has worked for them so far. PBKS has been in good form and will be aiming to maintain their momentum as they look to further capitalize on RCB’s vulnerabilities.
For Punjab Kings, their playing XI consists of Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya, Shreyas Iyer (captain), Josh Inglis (wicketkeeper), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Arshdeep Singh, and Yuzvendra Chahal. Their impact substitutes include Harpreet Brar, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Suryansh Shedge, Glenn Maxwell, and Praveen Dubey.
RCB’s playing XI includes Philip Salt, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar (captain), Jitesh Sharma (wicketkeeper), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Suyash Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, and Yash Dayal. Their impact substitutes are Devdutt Padikkal, Rasikh Dar Salam, Manoj Bhandage, Jacob Bethell, and Swapnil Singh.
Both teams will be keen to bring their best to the table, but RCB’s focus will undoubtedly be on their revamped batting strategy and the role of Shepherd in delivering the much-needed finishing touch. The outcome of this match will be crucial for RCB’s recovery as they try to regain their rhythm after a tough start to their IPL 2025 campaign. Stay tuned for more updates on the IPL 2025 season!
