Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Highlights, IPL 2025: Royal Challengers Bengaluru 159 for 3 (Kohli 73*, Padikkal 61) beat Punjab Kings 157 for 6 (Prabhsimran 33, Shashank 31*, Krunal 2-25, Suyash 2-26) by seven wickets
Another away game, another Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) win; their fifth in five matches and this one has taken them to ten points and third on the points table. Less than 48 hours after going down at home, RCB went up north to Mullanpur and exacted revenge from Punjab Kings (PBKS) in comprehensive fashion.
Sent into bat, the RCB bowlers hardly gave away anything as PBKS were restricted to 156 for 7. In reply, the chasemaster Virat Kohli was at it again as he recorded his 67th fifty-plus score in the IPL, the most for any batter. Devdutt Padikkal also recorded his first IPL fifty in 22 innings as RCB romped home with seven balls to spare and by seven wickets.
RCB had no hesitation in bowling on what Rajat Patidar called a “decent” surface. For the first six overs, it seemed that it was more than just decent as PBKS smashed 62 in the powerplay with Prabhsimran Singh going big.
Then the RCB spinners came to the fore, and it was one-way traffic thereon. Krunal Pandya picked 2 for 25 in his four overs, Suyash Sharma returned 2 for 26 as RCB put a lid on the scoring in the middle overs. Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar then put on a death bowling masterclass, hardly giving PBKS an inch.
In the chase, Arshdeep Singh got Phil Salt for the fourth time in T20s, but Kohli and Padikkal added 103 off 69 balls for the second wicket to keep RCB on track. Even as Padikkal and Patidar fell, Kohli held his own to remain unbeaten on 73 off 54 as RCB kept their 100% away record intact.
It could have been calamitous. Kohli pulled a short of a length Arshdeep delivery to deep midwicket. Kohli was sprinting down for a second run, but Patidar wasn't going anywhere. Both batters stranded at the same end, but Shashank Singh fumbled and then sent a weak throw. Iyer still had a lot of time to hunt down the stumps at the non-striker's end, but he missed. Kohli is not happy with Patidar.
The argument seems to have fired up Kohli, who smashes the next delivery over point for four before going six and four against Chahal in the 17th over. Patidar falls with the target just 15 away, but this should be a walk in the park for RCB hereon.
Virat Kohli is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH! He says that this win was crucial, as every point counts in the standings. He credits Devdutt Padikkal for making the difference in the innings and utilizing his experience. Kohli mentions that he adapted his role based on Salt's start, showcasing his ability to hold one end and accelerate when needed. He emphasizes the importance of understanding conditions and being adaptable, highlighting the team's growth and learnings from previous games. Kohli then downplays his award a bit, focusing on the team's performance.
Kohli-Padikkal Partnership Steals the Show
Chasing 158, RCB lost Phil Salt early for just 1 run. But what followed was pure masterclass from the duo of Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal. Their 103-run partnership turned the match completely in RCB’s favor.
Padikkal was aggressive from the start, smashing 61 off 35 balls, while Kohli played a composed yet fluent innings of 73 off 54 balls*, including 7 boundaries and a six. By the time Padikkal was dismissed, the match was well under control.
RCB wrapped up the chase in 18.5 overs, scoring 159/3 and securing two crucial points.
🌟 Notable Batting Performances (RCB):
💥 PBKS Bowling Summary:
-
Arshdeep Singh – 1/26 (3 overs)
-
Harpreet Brar – 1/27 (4 overs)
-
Yuzvendra Chahal – 1/36 (4 overs)
🏆 Player of the Match: Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli once again showed why he is the heartbeat of RCB. His calm, mature, and calculated innings under pressure ensured that RCB stayed on course throughout the chase. With this knock, he cements his form and leadership at a crucial point in the tournament.
📊 Key Stats from the Match:
-
RCB scored 100 runs in just 11.4 overs
-
Devdutt Padikkal hit 4 sixes and 5 fours
RCB’s second-wicket partnership added 103 runs
-
PBKS used Harpreet Brar as an Impact Player, replacing Prabhsimran Singh
%20(1).png)
