The much-anticipated clash between the table-toppers Royal Challengers Bengaluru and second-placed Punjab Kings turned out to be a lopsided affair, with RCB delivering a clinical performance to seal their place in the IPL 2025 final.
Poor Outing By PBKS
Nothing went right for Punjab Kings from the outset. After losing the toss and being asked to bat first on a slightly tacky surface in Mullanpur, their innings never got going. Both openers fell cheaply, and things only got worse from there. Josh Hazlewood was relentless with the new ball, striking early to dismiss key batters Shreyas Iyer and Josh Inglis. Once the top order was dismantled, Suyash Sharma stepped in and tore through the middle and lower order with a superb three-wicket spell. Poor shot selection compounded PBKS's woes, and they were eventually bundled out for a paltry 101.
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RCB Chased In Style
RCB’s chase was brisk and brutal. Despite a brief hiccup when Kyle Jamieson bowled a brilliant second over—removing Virat Kohli and troubling Mayank Agarwal—the Kiwi pacer couldn't maintain the pressure. His very next over went for 21 runs, swinging the momentum firmly back in Bengaluru’s favour.
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Phil Salt led the charge with a blistering 23-ball half-century, taking the attack to Arshdeep Singh and the rest of the PBKS bowlers. Alongside Agarwal, he stitched a quick-fire fifty-run stand to all but seal the result. Agarwal departed after a brief cameo, but by then the game was firmly in RCB’s grasp. The skipper fittingly struck the winning runs, guiding RCB to 102/3 in exactly 10 overs.
This dominant chase is now among the fastest 100+ targets ever chased in IPL history, with RCB joining elite company by achieving the feat in just 10.0 overs.
4th Time In Finals
RCB’s victory also marks their fourth appearance in an IPL final (2009, 2011, 2016, and now 2025). History may be on their side too the team winning Qualifier 1 has gone on to lift the trophy in 11 of the last 14 seasons, including the last seven editions consecutively.
With momentum and history backing them, RCB will now eye their elusive maiden IPL title.
Also Read: Shreyas Iyer In TROULBE? Will Poor Form Against RCB Yet Again Haunt The PBKS Skipper