PBKS VS RCB: Kohli’s 73 and Padikkal’s fiery 61 Dismantle PBKS

PBKS VS RCB: Royal Challengers Bengaluru cruised to a comfortable 7-wicket victory over Punjab Kings, wrapping up the chase with nearly seven balls to spare at the New PCA Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

RCB got their payback against Punjab Kings after losing to them just a few days ago. This marks PBKS’s third loss, while RCB notchs up their fifth win of the season.

RCB’s bowlers laid the foundation perfectly in the first innings. Even after losing Phil Salt early, the chase was smooth for the visitors. Kohli and Padikkal put on a solid 103-run partnership that virtually sealed the deal.

Devdutt Padikkal played a fiery knock of 61, while Virat Kohli, true to form, anchored the innings with an unbeaten 73—his record 67th IPL fifty—to guide Bengaluru to a convincing win.

Punjab Kings began their season impressively, but their flaws are starting to show. While they managed an early wicket in the first over, they failed to put up a competitive total.

The Powerplay and much of the middle overs went RCB’s way, with PBKS struggling to take key wickets. They did manage to grab a couple toward the end of the chase. But at that time, the match was already out of their hands.

PBKS VS RCB: 1st Inning

Earlier in the match, Rajat Patidar chose to bowl first—a decision that Shreyas Iyer might’ve made too. PBKS had a blazing start, showcasing one of their best batting efforts at this ground. But once the Powerplay ended and the spinners came into action, Punjab’s momentum dipped. Despite having a few set batters toward the end, they couldn’t pick up the pace.

With no batter managing to reach a half-century, only a few managed to score in the 20s and 30s, while the rest failed even to reach double digits. Prabhsimran Singh top-scored with 33, while Shashank Singh remained unbeaten on 31. 

RCB’s bowlers stole the spotlight. Once Krunal Pandya dismissed both openers, the pressure mounted, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar along with Josh Hazlewood bowled pinpoint yorkers at the death, keeping PBKS in trouble.

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