Royal Challengers Bengaluru Stun Punjab Kings in IPL 2025 Qualifier 1 Thriller

Mullanpur, Thursday, May 29, 2025 – In a high-stakes encounter at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) delivered a clinical performance to defeat Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Qualifier 1 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. With this dominant victory, RCB secured a coveted spot in the IPL 2025 final, while PBKS will have another shot at reaching the summit clash in Qualifier 2.

Toss and Early Onslaught

RCB captain Rajat Patidar won the crucial toss and elected to field first on a pitch that appeared to offer some assistance to the seamers early on. This decision proved to be a masterstroke as the RCB bowlers came out firing on all cylinders.

Yash Dayal set the tone in the very first over, dismissing the dangerous PBKS opener Priyansh Arya (7) with a good length delivery that took the outside edge, comfortably caught by Krunal Pandya. Bhuvneshwar Kumar continued the pressure in the next over, removing the other in-form opener, Prabhsimran Singh (18), leaving PBKS reeling at 27 for 2 within the first three overs.

Hazlewood and Sharma Cripple Punjab’s Batting

The RCB pace duo of Josh Hazlewood and Yash Dayal continued to torment the PBKS batsmen. Hazlewood accounted for the crucial wickets of skipper Shreyas Iyer (2) and the aggressive Josh Inglis (10) in his opening spell, showcasing his ability to extract movement and bounce. Dayal further dented PBKS’s hopes by dismissing Nehal Wadhera (7), leaving the home side struggling at 50 for 5 within the powerplay.

Leg-spinner Suyash Sharma then took center stage, weaving a web around the PBKS middle order. He struck twice in quick succession, removing Shashank Singh (3) and impact substitute Musheer Khan (0), pushing PBKS further into a corner. Sharma wasn’t done yet, as he later clean bowled the hard-hitting Marcus Stoinis (26), effectively derailing any hopes of a PBKS recovery.

Late Resistance Fails to Ignite

With wickets falling at regular intervals, PBKS found themselves in deep trouble. Azmatullah Omarzai (18) and Harpreet Brar (4) attempted to steady the ship, but the disciplined RCB bowling attack allowed no respite. Romario Shepherd joined the wicket-taking party, dismissing Brar, and Hazlewood returned to claim his third wicket, removing Omarzai, as PBKS were eventually bundled out for a paltry 101 in just 14.1 overs.

Suyash Sharma was the pick of the RCB bowlers, finishing with an impressive three-wicket haul for just 17 runs. Josh Hazlewood also impressed with three wickets, while Yash Dayal chipped in with two crucial early wickets. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Romario Shepherd took one wicket apiece, showcasing a collective bowling effort from RCB.

RCB’s Steady Response

Chasing a modest total of 102, RCB approached the innings with caution. However, they suffered an early blow when Kyle Jamieson, surprisingly opening the bowling for PBKS, dismissed the prolific Virat Kohli (12), caught by the wicketkeeper.

Despite the early setback, Phil Salt and Mayank Agarwal anchored the RCB innings with a sensible partnership. They navigated the PBKS bowling attack, ensuring there were no further hiccups in the chase. Salt remained unbeaten on a composed 46, while Agarwal contributed a steady 32. Liam Livingstone provided the finishing touches with a quickfire 11 not out, as RCB comfortably chased down the target in just 12.4 overs, winning by 7 wickets.

Key Highlights of the Match:

• Dominant Bowling Performance by RCB: The RCB bowlers were exceptional, exploiting the early conditions and maintaining pressure throughout the PBKS innings.
• Suyash Sharma’s Spin Magic: The young leg-spinner’s three wickets in a crucial phase completely derailed the PBKS middle order.
• Early Wickets Set the Tone: RCB’s pacers struck early, putting PBKS on the back foot right from the beginning.
• Composed Chase by RCB: Despite losing Kohli early, the RCB batsmen remained calm and ensured a comfortable victory.
• Priyansh Arya’s Dismissal: Digvesh Rathi had dismissed Priyansh Arya earlier in the tournament. However, in this match, it was Yash Dayal who took his wicket.

Head-to-Head Record:

Prior to this match, the head-to-head record between PBKS and RCB in the IPL stood at a close 18 wins for PBKS and 17 wins for RCB in 35 matches. This victory evens the score at 17 wins apiece.

Road to the Final:

Royal Challengers Bengaluru, with this emphatic win, have directly qualified for the IPL 2025 final, showcasing their strong form in the latter stages of the tournament. Punjab Kings, despite topping the league table, will now face the winner of the Eliminator in Qualifier 2 for another chance to reach the final.

This Qualifier 1 clash was a testament to RCB’s clinical execution with the ball and their composed approach with the bat. They have sent a strong message to the other contenders and will be eager to carry this momentum into the final. For Punjab Kings, this loss will be a setback, but they will need to regroup quickly and utilize their second opportunity to fight for a place in the summit clash.