RCB vs PBKS 1st Qualifier Highlights: The Punjab Kings were the table toppers of IPL 2025, as they had advanced to the top of the points table with 19 points and a higher net run rate. On the other hand, Royal Challengers Bangalore also secured an equal 19 points in the league stages with 9 wins and one match washed away by rain. RCB, also with 19 points, was in the 2nd position, having secured a huge win over LSG in the last group-stage game.
The Royal Challengers Bangalore, led by new skipper Rajat Patidar, advanced to the latest Indian cricket stadium at Mullanpur in New Chandigarh. This was one of the home venues for the Punjab Kings this season, as they have worked wonders on this venue, securing a mind-boggling win against KKR when they defended the lowest ever IPL total of 111 runs.
Punjab Kings are currently led by skipper Shreyas Iyer, who won the IPL trophy last season in the IPL with the Kolkata Knight Riders, and citing his brilliance on the field and his importance as a skipper, Iyer was bought in for a huge bid of INR 26.75 crores. He has led them to the playoffs after a decade and now will be eyeing a maiden title for the Kings.
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RCB vs PBKS 1st Qualifier Highlights
RCB vs PBKS 1st Qualifier Highlights: RCB bowlers run a masterclass against one of the most fierce batting units of IPL 2025
Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Rajat Patidar, who has been back on the field as their skipper in this match, won the toss and opted to bowl first, with their most reliable Josh Hazlewood coming back into the attack.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar once again had the new ball in hand, but it was Yash Dayal, the young left-armer, in the second over with the first blood for RCB. He dismissed the inform PBKS opener Priyansh Arya, while in the very next over, Prabhsimran Singh was sent back by Bhuvi. Hazlewood bowled three consecutive overs in the powerplay and beyond, picking the wickets of Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer and Josh Inglis.
After the spinners were out of action and half of the PBKS side sent back to the pavilion, Suyash Sharma had some show to put on at Mullanpur on this big occasion. Suyash made his debut last year in the IPL, and this is the second time he is playing in the playoffs, an incredible achievement to boost his morale. He bowled some unrecognizable wrong ones, thus dismissing the likes of Shashank Singh, impact sub Musheer Khan, and finally the dangerman Marcus Stoinis.
Not one of the PBKS batters ever looked to connect it smoothly, but it seemed more for the aggression and the improper short selections from the PBKS batters that they were bowled out for just 101 runs, with Suyash Sharma and Josh Hazlewood with 3 wickets each, while 2 wickets for Dayal, and 1 each for Bhuvi and Shepherd. Stoinis, Prabhsimran and Omarzai remained the three to have crossed double-digit scores on this occasion, with only Stoinis breaching the 20-run mark.
RCB vs PBKS 1st Qualifier Highlights: RCB Advance to Finals after a decade in the IPL
The Punjab Kings bowlers had a huge burden on their shoulders, though 102 never seems a defendable total coming into this stage of the game, where the two best teams of the season clash against each other to secure a position in the finals.
Arshdeep Singh and Kyle Jamieson shared the new ball but could not help the ball swing like it did for the RCB bowlers. Also, the PBKS bowlers took some time off before hitting the right lengths. Phil Salt and Virat Kohli immediately launched an attack on the Punjab Kings’ bowling attack and never let them settle in. Nudging for fours to smashing it out of the park, Kohli and Salt just knew their part of the game.
The tall and lanky Kiwi pacer Jamieson gave one slight ray of hope to the Kings with the wicket of Virat Kohli; however, this small score could never bring them back into the game, but he gave something to the fans to cheer for. However, Phil Salt was immediately fired up for RCB with the bat, as his unbeaten 56* helped RCB march into the finals with a comfortable chase within 10 overs.
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