PBKS vs RR Match 40 Preview: Unbeaten Punjab Host Jaiswal's Royals

Punjab Kings take on Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026 Match 40 at PCA Stadium, Mullanpur — and the playoff math is starting to bite. With Shreyas Iyer leading Punjab Kings and Riyan Parag leading Rajasthan Royals, this fixture is more than two points: it reshapes the top four. In this preview we cover the pitch, the predicted XIs, the key battles, Dream11 captain picks, and the one toss-call that could decide the match before the first ball is bowled.

Match Overview

Match: Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals — IPL 2026 Match 40 Date & time: Check the IPL 2026 schedule for start time Venue: PCA Stadium, Mullanpur Broadcast: Star Sports Network, JioHotstar (free on mobile)

Current form & points table context

As of 2026-04-21, Punjab Kings sit unbeaten at the top of the table, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad round out the top four, and both Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders are fighting from the bottom half. For the live standings, see our IPL 2026 points table and mid-season analysis.

Punjab Kings form

Punjab Kings come into Match 40 under Shreyas Iyer. Key players to watch: Shreyas Iyer, Glenn Maxwell, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh. Their death-overs unit has been a strength this season — see IPL 2026 death-overs specialists ranked for the data.

Rajasthan Royals form

Rajasthan Royals under Riyan Parag bring their own firepower: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Ravindra Jadeja, Trent Boult. For how their impact player use compares to the rest of the league, read our impact-player rule breakdown.

Pitch report — PCA Stadium, Mullanpur

New surface at Mullanpur offers true bounce. Large square boundaries mean rotating strike matters. Read the Mohali / PCA pitch report.

Key battles to watch

1. Shreyas Iyer vs Ravi Bishnoi — the marquee battle that decides the powerplay shape. For powerplay form, see IPL 2026 powerplay leaders.
2. Yashasvi Jaiswal vs Shashank Singh — death-overs chess that decides the total.
3. Spin vs the wicket — especially in overs 8–14.

Predicted playing XIs

Punjab Kings XI (predicted)

1. Shreyas Iyer (c)
2. Glenn Maxwell
3. Yuzvendra Chahal
4. Arshdeep Singh
5. Prabhsimran Singh
6. Shashank Singh
7. • 5 more from squad depth — track the Punjab Kings squad analysis.

Rajasthan Royals XI (predicted)

1. Yashasvi Jaiswal
2. Riyan Parag (c)
3. Ravindra Jadeja
4. Trent Boult
5. Ravi Bishnoi
6. • 5 more from the full Rajasthan Royals squad.

Head-to-head records

For the all-time head-to-head between these two sides, bookmark our Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals all-time comparison. Short version: this is one of the more competitive match-ups in IPL history, with neither side dominating more than 55% of encounters.

Dream11 fantasy picks

Captain picks (in order of confidence):

1. Shreyas Iyer
2. Yashasvi Jaiswal
3. Yuzvendra Chahal

Differential picks — for grand-league edge, read Dream11 batter differential picks IPL 2026 and powerplay bowlers differential picks.

Credits-efficient XI tips: see how to build a budget Dream11 team IPL 2026.

Prediction

Based on current form, venue trends and squad balance, the slight edge is with Punjab Kings on paper — but IPL 2026 has been a season of upsets, and the side that wins the toss at this venue will have a real advantage because of the dew equation.

Where to watch

Star Sports 1 / 3 HD (English & Hindi), JioHotstar (free on mobile via app), CricJosh live score page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time does Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals Match 40 start?

Match 40 follows the standard IPL 2026 schedule. Evening games start at 19:30 IST, afternoon double-header games at 15:30 IST. Confirm on our live IPL 2026 schedule.

Where can I watch Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals live?

Star Sports Network (TV) and JioHotstar (streaming, free on mobile). For live scorecard, visit our CricJosh live page.

Who is the captain of each team in Match 40?

Punjab Kings are led by Shreyas Iyer. Rajasthan Royals are led by Riyan Parag.

What is the venue and pitch type?

PCA Stadium, Mullanpur. See the pitch report section above for batting-first average, dew factor and spin vs pace behaviour.

Who should I pick as Dream11 captain?

Top choices are Shreyas Iyer and Yashasvi Jaiswal. For the full method, read our Dream11 captain-picks strategy.

The takeaway

Bookmark the IPL 2026 points table, check the live schedule, and use our Dream11 tools before you lock your fantasy team. CricJosh updates every hub after every match — no stale data.