Royal Challengers Bengaluru inched closer to ending years of heartache, delivering a commanding performance – the biggest win in IPL playoff history by balls remaining – against Punjab Kings in the first qualifier of IPL 2025. They stormed into their fourth IPL final, with the dream of a maiden title now burning brighter than ever.
After 17 (and counting) years of hurt, it’s all up for grabs again for RCB, who last reached the summit clash in 2016, which incidentally they played on this very day nine years ago. At the biggest arena in world cricket on June 3, they’ll hope to have the wind in their backs and fate whispering in their favour. After the jitters and wobbles, the niggles and doubts, this was the night they shed their flakiness and reclaimed the roar that has defined their season so far.
It began with the ball – Josh Hazlewood and Suyash Sharma picking up three wickets apiece to skittle PBKS for 101 inside 15 overs. Then Phil Salt lit the chase on fire, thumping a 27-ball 56 to finish the job with 10 overs and eight wickets to spare.
Where was the qualifier won?
In the first six overs.
Much of the pre-match chatter centred around the PowerPlay duel – PBKS’ explosive top order against RCB’s disciplined new-ball attack. PBKS came in with the second-best scoring rate in the PowerPlay (10.02), while RCB countered with the tournament’s best economy (8.79), the highest dot-ball percentage (43.5%), and the second-fewest sixes conceded (28) in this phase. That matchup dictated the contest. RCB’s bowlers, reinvigorated by the return of Josh Hazlewood, dismantled the PBKS top order, snatching four wickets inside the PowerPlay and crippling the innings before it had a chance to lift off.
Parameter PBKS RCB
Score 48/4 61/1
Run Rate 8 10.11
4s/6s 5/2 8/2
PUNJAB KINGS
PowerPlay: Hazlewood returns to flatten PBKS top order
Phase Score: 48/4 (RR: 8.00; 4s/6s: 5/2)
The reinstated Rajat Patidar won a crucial toss on a pitch with a hint of grass covering. His seamers capitalised, extracting movement, finding swing and sticking to disciplined lengths. Yash Dayal set the tone, having Priyansh Arya drive loosely to cover. Prabhsimran Singh countered with aggression, stepping out to loft Bhuvneshwar Kumar for boundaries over mid-on and mid-off, but the veteran pacer adjusted smartly, shortening his length to induce an edge. The returning Hazlewood then compounded PBKS’s woes, striking twice in quick succession. First he extended his matchup advantage over Shreyas Iyer, the PBKS skipper edging a wild slog to the ‘keeper. The Aussie quick then got compatriot Josh Inglis with a short ball that drew a miscued pull.
Middle Overs: Suyash spins web as PBKS unravel
Phase Score: 53/6 (RR: 6.49; 4s/6s: 2/2)
Pace or spin, PowerPlay or beyond, RCB were relentless, aided a little by PBKS’ shot selection. Nehal Wadhera dragged a Yash Dayal delivery onto his stumps before Suyash Sharma took over. The legspinner cleaned up Shashank Singh with a googly after the batter looked to counter-attack. At 60 for 6, PBKS introduced Musheer Khan as their Impact Player, but the debutant lasted just three balls before missing a sweep to give Suyash his second wicket of the over. Marcus Stoinis, PBKS’ lone bright spark, struck a six but perished soon after to another Suyash googly, bowled while attempting a slog-sweep for 26 off 17.
Azmatullah Omarzai and Harpreet Brar briefly resisted, but Romario Shepherd broke the stand with a short ball that cannoned off Brar’s forearm onto the stumps, the fourth batter to lose his stumps. Hazlewood then returned to end the innings with the first ball of the 15th over, Jitesh Sharma leaping high to complete a stunning one-handed catch off yet another edge.
ROYAL CHALLENGERS BENGALURU
PowerPlay: Salt blitz puts game beyond doubt
Phase Score: 61/1 (RR: 10.17; 4s/6s: 8/2)
PBKS, buoyed by a raucous home crowd and past success defending a low total at this venue, came out with intent. But a couple of soft overs up front saw RCB race to 30 in three. Kyle Jamieson then briefly ignited hope with a sensational fourth over, swinging it big, extracting seam, and delivering just the sixth maiden of the season. He also removed Virat Kohli for 12, caught behind. Mayank Agarawal’s hesitant outing, three misjudged pokes and a watchful leave, captured the last gasp of PBKS’ resistance.
That was as long as their fight lasted. Phil Salt seized control, first hitting Azmatullah Omarzai (in for Marco Jansen) for a pair of boundaries through the offside. With the movement fading, he dismantled Jamieson in the final over of the PowerPlay, two scorching boundaries on either side of the wicket followed by a lofted six over cover that left no doubt which way the game was heading.
Middle Overs: RCB cruise to victory with 10 overs to spare
Phase Score: 45/1 (RR: 11.24; 4s/6s: 3/3)
Agarawal attacked the spin of Musheer to hit a six and a four but was caught behind soon after. But once Salt got to a 23-ball half-century, Patidar stepped in to crunch a four and a six off Musheer to cap a famous win.
Brief scores: Punjab Kings 101 in 14.1 overs (Marcus Stoinis 26; Suyash Sharma 3-17, Josh Hazlewood 3-21) lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru 106/2 in 10 overs (Phil Salt 56*; Kyle Jamieson 1-27) by 8 wickets.
What’s next for the teams?
Both teams will head to Ahmedabad. RCB will have a couple of days to put their feet up before the big final on June 3. PBKS will have an opportunity to meet them there again, but to get there they’ll have to beat the winner of tomorrow’s eliminator clash.
© Cricbuzz
