The Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur has been the highest-scoring venue in IPL 2026. Unlike most grounds this season, Mullanpur’s black soil surface provides true bounce and rewards aggressive batting, with an average first-innings score of 211 runs across three matches and four 200-plus totals already posted.
The surface is flat, offers consistent carry, and gets easier to bat on as the game progresses. Consequently, anything below 200 is considered below par here. Pacers have accounted for 65.73% of wickets at this venue, mainly through new-ball movement, while spinners (33.14%) find some grip during the middle overs.
Match 40 of IPL 2026 pits table-toppers Punjab Kings (13 points, 7 matches, unbeaten) against fourth-placed Rajasthan Royals (10 points, 8 matches, lost 3 of last 4). PBKS are 3-0 at Mullanpur this season and just pulled off a record chase of 265 against DC, while RR are looking to arrest a worrying slide.
PBKS vs RR Match 40 Pitch Report – Mullanpur Stadium
Mullanpur has been a batter’s paradise throughout IPL 2026. The black soil wicket provides even bounce and lets the ball come nicely onto the bat, making stroke-play straightforward once batters settle in. PBKS scored 254/7 against LSG here, the highest team total in IPL 2026, and chased down 220 against SRH with 7 balls to spare.
Fast bowlers get some lateral movement with the new ball during the powerplay. However, once the ball softens, the pitch flattens out completely. Bowlers then rely heavily on slower balls, cutters, and changes of pace to survive.
Spinners can extract some grip during the middle overs (7-15), but the overall run rate of 9.15 per over tells you batting dominates at this ground. Despite the early movement, IPL trends at Mullanpur show a perfectly even split between bat-first and chase wins, with 7 victories each across 14 matches.
Additionally, dew typically plays a role in the second innings during late April night matches, making the ball harder to grip for bowlers. Consequently, the toss-winning captain is expected to bowl first tonight.
| Pitch Factor | Detail | Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Pitch type | Black soil, true bounce, flat | Batters |
| Average 1st innings score (IPL 2026) | 211 runs | Batters |
| Toss advantage | Bowl first (dew in 2nd innings) | Chasing team |
| Pace bowling | New ball moves, softens quickly | Pacers (powerplay) |
| Spin bowling | Some grip in middle overs (7-15) | Marginal |
| Weather impact | 38°C day, 23°C at match time, no rain | Neutral |
| Boundary size | Standard dimensions, quick outfield | Batters |
In short, this is a ground where batters dominate from ball one. Bowlers who rely on variations and death-overs accuracy will stay in the game, but setting fields and bowling to them requires near-perfect execution.
PBKS vs RR Head-to-Head Record
The two teams have met 30 times in the IPL, with RR leading 17-13. However, PBKS are unbeaten at Mullanpur in IPL 2026 with 3 wins from 3 matches, making them heavy favourites on home turf.
| Category | Punjab Kings | Rajasthan Royals |
|---|---|---|
| Total IPL matches | 30 | 30 |
| Wins | 13 | 17 |
| PBKS record at Mullanpur in IPL 2026 | 3 wins from 3 | N/A |
| Top run-scorer in rivalry | KL Rahul (490 runs) | Sanju Samson (632 runs) |
| IPL 2025 results | 1 win (Jaipur, by 10 runs) | 1 win (Mullanpur, by 50 runs) |
Key Stats and Records at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium
- Highest team total: 254/7 by PBKS vs LSG in IPL 2026
- Lowest team total: 95/10 by KKR vs PBKS in IPL 2025
- Highest individual score: 103 by Priyansh Arya (PBKS vs CSK, IPL 2025)
- Best bowling figures: 4/28 by Yuzvendra Chahal (PBKS vs KKR, IPL 2025)
- Average first-innings score (IPL 2026): 211 runs
- Average first-innings score (Overall, 14 matches): 184.80 runs
- Wickets by pacers: 65.73%
- Wickets by spinners: 33.14%
- PBKS overall home record at Mullanpur: 7 wins from 14 IPL matches (historically); 3/3 in IPL 2026
- Last match at Mullanpur in IPL 2026: PBKS (254/7) beat LSG by 54 runs
PBKS vs RR IPL 2026 Match 40 – Who Will Perform?
On a pitch this flat, the team with the more fearless top order usually wins. Batters who go hard from ball one thrive here, while bowlers who vary their pace and nail their yorkers can steal key wickets.
PBKS vs RR – Key Batters to Watch
PBKS Batters
- Priyansh Arya – Has smashed 254 runs in 6 innings at a strike rate close to 250 this season. His powerplay aggression on Mullanpur’s true surface makes him the most dangerous opener in this fixture.
- Prabhsimran Singh – PBKS’s top run-scorer with 287 runs at an average of 57.40 and strike rate of 193. His 76 off 26 balls while chasing 265 against DC showed what he can do when he gets going.
- Shreyas Iyer – The captain has scored 279 runs at a strike rate of 186, averaging close to 70. His unbeaten 69*(33) while chasing 220 at this very ground against SRH proves he reads Mullanpur conditions perfectly.
RR Batters
- Yashasvi Jaiswal – Has crossed 250 runs this season at a strike rate above 157. The true bounce and carry at Mullanpur suit his pull shots and drives. If RR need a big score, Jaiswal is the man.
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi – The first batter to score 50+ in the first six overs four times for RR this IPL. His powerplay intent is exactly what Mullanpur demands, though a hamstring concern makes his availability uncertain.
- Shimron Hetmyer – The big-hitting left-hander has managed just 72 runs in 6 innings this season. RR desperately need him to fire in the death overs on a ground where finishing strong decides outcomes.
PBKS vs RR – Key Bowlers to Watch
PBKS Bowlers
- Arshdeep Singh – The all-time leading wicket-taker at Mullanpur. His left-arm angle and death-overs yorkers have consistently troubled batters at this venue. He also leads the PBKS vs RR rivalry bowling charts with 17 wickets.
- Yuzvendra Chahal – Holds the best bowling figures at this ground: 4/28 vs KKR in IPL 2025. His googlies can exploit the middle-overs grip, making him PBKS’s primary spin threat.
- Marco Jansen – Has the best economy rate (8.95) among PBKS’s main bowlers this season. His ability to extract bounce from the black soil surface adds variety to the attack.
RR Bowlers
- Jofra Archer – RR’s standout bowler with 13 wickets in 8 matches at an average of 17.92. If he dismisses Prabhsimran and Priyansh inside the powerplay, PBKS’s batting template falls apart.
- Ravi Bishnoi – Leg-spinner who can control the middle overs. On a surface with some grip between overs 7-15, Bishnoi bowling in tandem with Jadeja could choke PBKS’s run flow.
- Ravindra Jadeja – His left-arm spin and ability to contribute with the bat make him RR’s most valuable all-round asset. His economy during the middle overs will be critical to keeping scores under control.
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Who Will Win PBKS vs RR Match 40?
This is a top-vs-fourth clash with both teams at different stages of the tournament. The toss matters here because of the dew factor, but bowling first carries a slight advantage based on recent Mullanpur trends. A target of 200-220 should be competitive, but anything below 190 will likely be chased down comfortably.
PBKS’s home dominance (3-0 at Mullanpur), their record-breaking chasing ability (265 vs DC), and the form of Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran, and Shreyas Iyer give them a clear edge. However, RR’s bowling, led by Jofra Archer’s early breakthroughs and Bishnoi-Jadeja’s middle-overs control, could make things interesting if they restrict PBKS’s explosive top order.
Prediction: Expect a high-scoring affair with totals touching 200+. PBKS’s batting depth and Mullanpur expertise make them favourites, but RR have the bowling arsenal to cause an upset if Archer strikes early. The team batting second should have the advantage thanks to dew. Specifically, if PBKS chase, their success rate at Mullanpur suggests they will get the job done.
