PBKS vs RCB IPL 2025: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) beat Punjab Kings (PBKS) by 7 wickets in the 37th game of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 at the Mullanpur Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh.
The win was RCB’s revenge for their previous defeat to Punjab Kings at the Chinnaswamy Cricket Stadium. The match featured great performances by Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal, who took their team towards a comfortable victory with great half-centuries. Virat won the player of the match award for his 73-run knock.
RCB Levels with PBKS in a 7-Wicket Victory
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RCB’s 5th victory of the season came in style, as they chased down the modest target of 158 runs set by Punjab Kings in 18.5 overs. Virat Kohli, the veteran RCB batter, played a stellar knock of 73 not out, marking his 101st fifty in the IPL. Kohli’s innings was the backbone of the chase, and his ability to stay till the end helped RCB reach the target with ease.
Together with Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal scored a scintillating 61 off 35 balls, featuring 5 fours and 4 sixes, which helped a lot in the chase. As a pair, the two helped RCB reach the target without too much difficulty. RCB captain Rajat Patidar was unable to help much, scoring 12 runs off 13 deliveries before being dismissed.
Punjab Kings’ Batting Fails to Fire
Batting first after losing the toss, Punjab Kings found it difficult to post a competitive score. Though they had a good start courtesy Prabhsimran Singh (33 runs) and Priyansh Arya (22 runs), Punjab’s middle order crumbled before RCB’s spinners. Punjab Kings managed only 157/6 in their 20 overs, which was way short of expectations given the conditions.
Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma were the ones who limited Punjab. Krunal Pandya gave 2 wickets for 25 runs, and Suyash Sharma, the leg-spinner, also picked up 2 wickets for 26 runs. Their controlled bowling didn’t allow Punjab to go at a fast pace and score a large total on the board.
PBKS vs RCB IPL 2025: Punjab’s Batting and Bowling Fail to Leave a Mark
Due to RCB’s chase, the bowlers from Punjab Kings couldn’t breach the solid partnership of Kohli and Padikkal. Even with 7 bowlers, none other than Arshdeep Singh, Harpreet Brar, and Yuzvendra Chahal were able to pick up a wicket each. The bowlers’ failure to penetrate handed RCB the victory in style.
Key Batting Contributions for PBKS:
Prabhsimran Singh: 33 runs
Shashank Singh: 31 runs*
Josh Inglis: 29 runs
Marco Jansen: 25 runs*
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But it was the underperformance of the middle order and inability to accelerate against the spinners that proved costly for Punjab.
Key Performances for RCB:
Virat Kohli: 73 runs* (not out)
Devdutt Padikkal: 61 runs (35 balls, 5 fours, 4 sixes)
Krunal Pandya: 2 wickets for 25 runs
Suyash Sharma: 2 wickets for 26 runs
Match Summary
PBKS Score: 157/6 (20 overs)
Top Scorer for PBKS: Prabhsimran Singh (33 runs)
RCB Score: 158/3 (18.5 overs)
Top RCB Scorer: Virat Kohli (73* runs), Devdutt Padikkal (61 runs)
RCB’s Strong Position in IPL 2025
Through this win, Royal Challengers Bangalore have not only drawn the head-to-head score level with Punjab Kings but have also won their 5th game out of 8 matches this season.
The confidence of the team is increasing, and they are becoming a strong rival in IPL 2025 by the day. For Punjab Kings, this was a setback as they suffered their third loss of the season. Despite the efforts from a few of their top players, both their batting and bowling were unable to rise to the occasion, resulting in a comprehensive loss.
What’s Next for PBKS and RCB?
RCB will aim to carry on their winning spree and consolidate their position in the points table. Punjab Kings will have to reorganize and work on their inconsistencies in order to remain competitive in the tournament.
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