RCB Crush PBKS by 7 Wickets in IPL 2025.
In what turned out to be a dominant display of cricketing prowess, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) registered a thumping seven-wicket win over Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Match 37 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. The encounter, held at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur on Sunday, showcased the brilliance of Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal with the bat, along with superb spells from Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma with the ball.
PBKS Innings: Stuttering Start and Struggles ThroughoutOpting to bat first, PBKS found themselves in early trouble against a disciplined RCB bowling attack. Opener Prabhsimran Singh gave the hosts a fiery start, scoring a quick 33 off just 17 deliveries, but his departure triggered a collapse that Punjab never quite recovered from. While he looked in good touch, lofting boundaries with ease, wickets kept tumbling at the other end.Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma played pivotal roles in choking the middle order. Krunal ended with impressive figures of 2 for 25, extracting grip and turn from the surface. Meanwhile, Suyash Sharma’s variations kept the batters guessing, as he too claimed two wickets for 26 runs.
PBKS struggled to build partnerships, and with RCB striking at regular intervals, they were restricted to a modest total of 157/6 in their 20 overs. No batter other than Prabhsimran managed to cross the 30-run mark, highlighting the disjointed batting performance. Captain Shreyas Iyer, who was expected to anchor the innings, failed to make an impact and eventually walked off the field due to illness.
RCB Innings: Kohli and Padikkal Take Centre Stage
Chasing 158, RCB lost Phil Salt early, courtesy of a sharp delivery from Arshdeep Singh. The Englishman edged one behind to Josh Inglis after scoring just a solitary run. However, that turned out to be the only moment of joy for PBKS in the second innings.
Virat Kohli, in his usual elegant style, joined hands with Devdutt Padikkal, and the duo steadied the innings before taking the attack to the bowlers. The left-right combination worked beautifully for RCB as both batters timed their shots to perfection and rotated the strike effectively.
Kohli played the anchor role initially, relying on singles and doubles before unleashing his signature drives. His innings was laced with six boundaries and a couple of sixes, one of which was a towering straight hit off Yuzvendra Chahal. He reached his half-century in 43 balls and remained unbeaten on 73 off 51 deliveries.
Padikkal, on the other hand, was the aggressor in the partnership. Showing excellent footwork and clean hitting, he brought up his 10th IPL half-century in just 30 balls. His knock included five boundaries and three sixes, and he looked set for a big score before mistiming a lofted shot and falling to Harpreet Brar for 61.
Their 103-run partnership effectively sealed the fate of the match, taking the score to 109/2 by the 13th over. Rajat Patidar walked in next but failed to convert his start, getting dismissed by Chahal for 12. Nevertheless, RCB were already in a commanding position.
Kohli and the incoming batsman then calmly steered the chase, with RCB eventually reaching the target in 18.5 overs, winning the game with seven balls to spare. Kohli fittingly hit the winning runs, reinforcing his stature as one of the best finishers in the game.
Turning Points
Prabhsimran’s Wicket: His dismissal curtailed PBKS’s momentum in the powerplay and exposed their fragile middle order.
Middle-Over Strangle: Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma spun a web around the PBKS batters, taking crucial wickets at just the right times.
Kohli-Padikkal Partnership: The 103-run stand was a masterclass in T20 batting, combining aggression with composure.
Bowling Highlights
RCB’s bowling attack deserves equal credit for setting up the win. While the spinners did the heavy lifting in the middle overs, the pace attack maintained discipline early on, not allowing PBKS to capitalise on the powerplay.
Krunal Pandya’s control and ability to bowl in tandem with Suyash Sharma proved critical. Together, they bowled eight overs for just 51 runs and picked up four wickets between them. Mohammed Siraj and Alzarri Joseph bowled economically as well, preventing any late assault from PBKS.
For PBKS, the bowling was largely ineffective after the first few overs. Although Arshdeep Singh managed an early breakthrough, the rest of the bowling attack failed to exert pressure. Yuzvendra Chahal and Harpreet Brar picked up a wicket apiece but were taken apart by Kohli and Padikkal.
Fielding and CaptaincyRCB were clinical in the field, taking their catches and saving boundaries. The mix-up between Kohli and Patidar could have cost them, but poor fielding from PBKS meant RCB got away unscathed.
Faf du Plessis, captaining RCB, managed his resources effectively. His field placements and bowling changes kept PBKS under constant pressure. The decision to introduce spinners early paid rich dividends.On the other hand, PBKS's strategy appeared reactive rather than proactive. Shreyas Iyer’s absence during a critical phase further dented their morale and execution.
Post-Match Reactions
Virat Kohli, the player of the match, expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, especially the bowlers for setting up the win. “Credit to the bowlers for restricting them to 157. It was a good batting track, and once we got the momentum, it was all about batting smart,” he said.
Devdutt Padikkal, delighted with his return to form, noted that he had been working on his strike rotation and attacking shots. “Really happy with how I struck the ball. The team needed a solid platform, and I’m glad I could deliver,” he added.
Faf du Plessis praised the team’s all-round effort. “The way we bowled was top-notch. The batting from Virat and Devdutt was just the icing on the cake,” the skipper said.
PBKS coach Trevor Bayliss acknowledged the team’s below-par performance and promised to come back stronger. “Not the result we wanted, but we’ll regroup. The boys know we need more discipline and energy,” he stated.
What’s Next?
This comprehensive win boosts RCB’s playoff hopes as they continue their campaign with renewed confidence. They will next face Rajasthan Royals in what promises to be another exciting contest.
Punjab Kings, meanwhile, are now under pressure to reassess their game plan. With the tournament entering a crucial phase, their margin for error has significantly reduced.
Final Scorecard:
Punjab Kings: 157/6 in 20 overs (Prabhsimran Singh 33, Krunal Pandya 2/25, Suyash Sharma 2/26)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: 159/3 in 18.5 overs (Virat Kohli 73*, Devdutt Padikkal 61)
Result: RCB won by 7 wicketsRCB’s clinical display against PBKS in IPL 2025 will be remembered as one of their most well-rounded performances of the season. From choking the opposition with spin to building a dominant batting stand, they ticked all boxes and made a powerful statement in their bid for the IPL trophy.
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