In a rain-distracted thriller between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), in the PBKS vs RCB IPL 2025 game, Tim David dazzled as he bagged his first half-century in the Indian Premier League. Hazlewood took 3 and Bhuvneshwar Kumar took 2 early wickets, but PBKS progressed to win the match by 5-doing so thanks to a valuable contribution of 33 runs from Nehal Wadhera.
Tim David gets 5 awards at the post-match ceremony
- Super Striker – 192
- Most Sixes – 3
- Most Fours – 5
- Fantasy King – 112 Points
- Player Of The Match – 50 Runs (26 Balls)
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Rain Reduces Game to 14 Overs per Team
The 34th game of the IPL season 2025 was contested in difficult weather conditions. Rain interfered with the play, cutting the game short to 14 overs a side. Punjab Kings won the toss and decided to bowl first at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
RCB’s Struggle With the Bat
Batting first, Royal Challengers Bangalore struggled for most of their innings. They were unable to gather momentum and lost wickets at frequent intervals. In 58 balls, batters of RCB made 44 runs where whereas Tim David came out as an exception, scoring 50 runs of just 26 balls on the same pitch, which resulted in being lethal for the batsman to face.
Tim David’s Heroics Light Up the End Overs
RCB’s fate changed drastically in the last overs, courtesy of a match-winning knock by Tim David, who didn’t get out for 50 off 26 balls, hitting five boundaries and three mighty sixes.
Not only did this scorching innings save RCB from a low score, but it was also Tim David’s maiden IPL half-century, a milestone in his IPL journey.
Final Over Drama: 3 Dots, 3 Sixes, 1 No Ball
The most dramatic moment was in the last over, bowled by Punjab spinner Harpreet Brar. Surprisingly, David didn’t get anything on the first three balls, choosing to wait for the perfect moment. Then came a jaw-dropping show:
Ball 4: Six
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Ball 5: Six
Ball 6: Six
And if all that was not enough, Harpreet’s last ball was a no-ball, giving RCB a free hit. David took advantage again, stealing two vital runs to take his half-century in style.
Punjab Kings’ Confident Chase Puts Them on Top
Pursuing a score of 96, Punjab Kings (PBKS) began the innings aggressively. Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya’s opening combination contributed 22 runs for the first wicket. While 13 runs from 9 deliveries were made by Prabhsimran, Priyansh Arya scored 11 runs from 16 balls.
Middle Order Woes, But Nehal Wadhera Seals the Deal
The Punjab pursuit did suffer a temporary stutter, particularly after being reduced to four wickets for only 53 runs. Shreyas Iyer, the captain, went cheaply for 7 runs, and Josh Inglis scored only 14 off 17 balls.
It was Nehal Wadhera, though, who held the innings together with a match-winning 33 from 19 deliveries*, leading PBKS to win in 12.1 overs. His aggressiveness and poise ensured that there were no more hiccups in the chase.
Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Shine for RCB
Among the RCB bowlers, the man of the hour was Josh Hazlewood, who took 3 important wickets. Bhuvneshwar Kumar too managed to get 2 wickets, but little did that give with a pathetic total.
RCB’s Playoff Hopes in Jeopardy
With another home defeat in the PBKS vs RCB IPL 2025 match, RCB’s playoff hopes are in jeopardy. Their inconsistent performance, particularly at home, is turning out to be a cause of concern.
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