Predictions, Dream11 teams & pitch reports — May 26 to 31
Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals at IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali is a matchup where recent form matters more than head-to-head history. Rivalry, pressure, crowd — it's a different ball game altogether.
The North Indian showdown. Punjab vs Rajasthan, Mohali vs Jaipur. Neither has the IPL legacy of CSK or MI, but both play with a freedom that makes for exciting cricket.
Shikhar Dhawan and Sam Curran are the backbone of PBKS's batting lineup. When they fire, PBKS is nearly unstoppable.
Jaiswal is the future of Indian cricket — actually, he's the present. His ability to bat through the innings and accelerate at will makes him the most complete young batter in IPL. At 24, he's already got 2,000+ IPL runs.
The pace friendly conditions at IS Bindra Stadium mean batters will love it here. Power-hitters who can clear those 64m boundaries will feast.
the beauty of this contest is that both teams actually deserve to win. Mid-season is where pretenders get separated from contenders. This match could define the trajectory for both teams.
Mid-season is where pretenders get separated from contenders. This match could define the trajectory for both teams. For more upcoming matches, see our full IPL 2026 schedule.
Home advantage and the recent form gives PBKS a slight edge here. The batting-friendly conditions suit their aggressive lineup. RR have the quality to upset, but they need to be at their best. Our call: RR with a slight edge.
Here's our recommended Dream11 XI for PBKS vs RR — stack your team with -> specialists. Smart Dream11 move today: stack from one team if you expect a big win. If one team posts 200+, their batters and the opposition's wicket-takers will score big. Pick 6-7 from the team you think will dominate. The key is to not overthink it — pick players who are in form and let the match do the rest. For detailed fantasy tips, check our Dream11 hub.
Our recommended Dream11 team for PBKS vs RR Match 28:
Shikhar Dhawan (PBKS) vs Sanju Samson (RR) — this is the marquee matchup of the match. When these two compete, something has to give. Watch the powerplay for this contest.
The battle between Sam Curran and Dhruv Jurel could decide this game. Sam Curran has been in terrific form, but Dhruv Jurel is not someone you can take lightly. This matchup is pure gold for cricket fans.
Arshdeep Singh vs Jos Buttler — both players know they need to outperform the other. The team whose player wins this head-to-head will most likely win the match. Simple as that.
IS Bindra Stadium is pacer heaven. Good bounce, carry, and that breeze coming off the hills aids swing beautifully. Fast bowlers who hit the deck hard will get rewarded here. Batters need to be patient in the first 6 overs.
Punjab's April is warm but not punishing — 28-30°C at match time. The hills nearby keep temperatures lower than the plains. Perfect cricket weather honestly. Dew kicks in late, giving a slight edge to chasing teams.
The dew factor at IS Bindra Stadium is moderate. It will affect grip slightly in the second innings but not enough to make it impossible to bowl. Both batting first and chasing are viable options.
For those playing fantasy cricket, the budget picks can actually make or break your Dream11 team. At under 7.5 credits, this is highway robbery. The player bats at 4-5, bowls 2 overs, and fields in the inner ring. Triple-threat value. Look at players like Arshdeep Singh from PBKS and Dhruv Jurel from RR — they fly under the radar but deliver consistent fantasy points. Sometimes it's the 7-credit pick that gives you 50+ points while the 10-credit star fails.
Why Shimron Hetmyer? Because big players turn up in big matches. This is one of those matches, and Shimron Hetmyer has a track record of delivering when it matters most.
Why Dhruv Jurel? Because big players turn up in big matches. This is one of those matches, and Dhruv Jurel has a track record of delivering when it matters most.
Source: ESPNcricinfo IPL Records
Mixed bag — can beat anyone but also capable of random off days. Shikhar Dhawan's captaincy will be tested as PBKS look to maintain their winning momentum.
Building momentum at the right time — 3 straight wins shows improvement. Sanju Samson knows that RR need to keep the winning run going.
Historically at IS Bindra Stadium, chasing teams have a clear advantage. Expect the toss winner to bowl first. The smart money is on bowling first at IS Bindra Stadium. With 54% of matches won by chasing teams here, the toss winner will almost certainly elect to field first. Dew is the reason — and it's a big reason. Both captains will be thinking about this carefully — get the toss decision wrong at IS Bindra Stadium and you're starting the match on the back foot. The last 10 IPL matches at this venue show a clear trend that teams should bowl first and chase. Expect the winning captain to follow this pattern.
Mohali weather is expected to be clear for this match. Temperature and humidity details are in our weather section above. No rain is anticipated, so a full match is expected.
For PBKS vs RR, pick your Dream11 captain from the team batting second. At IS Bindra Stadium, second-innings batters score more fantasy points due to dew advantage. At IS Bindra Stadium, openers and top-order batters score the most fantasy points. All-rounders who bowl full quotas are also strong captain options.
IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali is known for pace-friendly conditions. The average first innings score is 175. Good bounce for pacers, Himachal breeze aids swing. Teams winning the toss prefer to chase at this venue.
PBKS vs RR is scheduled at the IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali. Check the match card above for the exact start time in IST.
Pick your vice-captain from the opposing team to balance risk. All-rounders who bat in top 5 and bowl 4 overs are ideal VC picks at IS Bindra Stadium
For this match at IS Bindra Stadium, pick batters who can handle pace-friendly conditions. All-rounders are valuable at this venue. Choose your captain from the team batting second if you expect the toss winner to bowl first.
The team winning the toss at IS Bindra Stadium is expected to bowl first. 52% of toss winners have chosen to field first at this venue in recent IPL matches.
Based on our analysis of form, head-to-head records, and IS Bindra Stadium conditions, PBKS has a slight edge due to home advantage. The pace-friendly pitch suits their bowling attack. However, RR has the firepower to pull off an upset.
Check out other matches involving PBKS and RR:
Learn more about the teams competing in this match:
Why trust this page: our analysts combine venue bias, likely batting order, recent role clarity, and Dream11 point upside before publishing the final call. This page is maintained by Arjun Mehta and updated closer to toss when needed.
