🏏 RCB Storms into IPL 2025 Final: A Dominant Win Over Punjab Kings
Date: May 29, 2025
Venue: Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur
Match: IPL 2025 Qualifier 1 – Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru
💥 Bengaluru Roars Into the Final!
In a clinical and commanding performance, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) powered their way into the IPL 2025 Final by defeating Punjab Kings (PBKS) with a thumping 8-wicket victory. The men in red and gold proved why they are title contenders this season with a near-flawless display in all departments.
🏏 First Innings: Punjab Kings Collapse for 101
After RCB won the toss and opted to bowl first, their bowlers wreaked havoc. PBKS never really got going and were bowled out for a mere 101 runs in just 14.1 overs.
1.Josh Hazlewood delivered a lethal spell, taking 3 wickets for 21 runs, rattling the top order.
2.Suyash Sharma kept the pressure on with 3/17, removing key middle-order batters.
3.Yash Dayal also chipped in with 2 wickets, ensuring there was no comeback for Punjab.
None of the PBKS batters crossed 25, and the total was far below par for a knockout match.
🔥 RCB Chase: Salt Adds Flavor!
In response, RCB chased down the target with stunning ease. Despite losing Virat Kohli early for 12, the run chase was never in doubt.
Phil Salt was the star of the show, scoring a blistering 56 off 27 balls*. His innings included six boundaries and three sixes, entertaining the Mullanpur crowd with aggressive stroke play.
Rajat Patidar, the stand-in skipper, remained composed with an unbeaten 28*, guiding RCB to 106/2 in just 10 overs.
🌟 Key Highlights
Total Dominance: RCB bowled out PBKS for 101 and chased it down in 10 overs.
Phil Salt’s Fireworks: A rapid half-century that sealed the match early.
Hazlewood & Suyash Duo: Devastating spells to break PBKS’s backbone.
A Moment for the Heart: Anushka Sharma’s proud smiles from the stands added an emotional note, as husband Kohli led from the front despite a short stay at the crease.
🏆 What’s Next?
This win takes RCB to their first IPL final since 2016, reigniting hopes of lifting their maiden IPL trophy. Under Rajat Patidar’s calm captaincy and with match-winners across departments, this might just be the year of the Challengers.
As for PBKS, all is not lost. They now move to Qualifier 2, where they'll face the winner of the Eliminator clash between Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Titans. One more chance remains.
Final Thoughts
RCB fans across the globe will be buzzing tonight. This performance was not just a win—it was a statement. A team long mocked for its near-misses is now a victory away from rewriting its legacy.
Will 2025 be the year RCB finally lift the IPL trophy? The final awaits.