PBKS vs RCB IPL 2025 Qualifier 1: Royal Challengers Bengaluru Win by 8 Wickets in Ahmedabad

On May 29, 2025, the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad played host to a commanding performance by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the IPL 2025 Qualifier 1. In a one-sided showdown, RCB demolished PBKS, bowling them out for a paltry 101 and chasing the target in just 10 overs to win by 8 wickets. Led by captain Rajat Patidar and fueled by a devastating bowling display from Josh Hazlewood and Krunal Pandya, RCB stormed into their fourth IPL final, inching closer to ending their 18-year title drought. The match, played before a roaring crowd of 90,871, marked a high point in RCB’s resurgent 2025 campaign.

Road to Qualifier 1

Punjab Kings

Punjab Kings, under Shreyas Iyer’s leadership, topped the IPL 2025 league stage with 9 wins, 4 losses, and 1 no-result in 14 matches, earning 19 points. Their batting firepower shone, posting 200-plus totals seven times, with Priyansh Arya (527 runs) and Shashank Singh leading the charge. A 243 for 5 thrashing of Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad early in the season highlighted their dominance, while wins over MI and CSK underscored consistency. Arshdeep Singh’s pace (21 wickets) and Yuzvendra Chahal’s spin (17 wickets) anchored a versatile attack. PBKS aimed to reach their second final, having lost in 2014 as Kings XI Punjab, but faced a stern test from a revitalized RCB.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru

RCB, captained by Rajat Patidar, finished second with 9 wins, 4 losses, and 1 no-result, also securing 19 points but trailing on net run rate. After a slow start, RCB hit their stride, with Virat Kohli’s 600-plus runs and Liam Livingstone’s explosive cameos driving the batting. Their bowling turned a corner, with Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, and Yash Dayal forming a potent pace trio, complemented by Krunal Pandya’s guile. A 7-wicket rout of Delhi Capitals in Bengaluru and a tense win over MI showcased their form. RCB, with final losses in 2009, 2011, and 2016, hungered for their maiden title.

Qualifier 1 at the Narendra Modi Stadium promised a clash of titans. Ahmedabad’s red-soil pitch, known for high scores (average first-innings total: 219 in IPL 2025), favored batters, with six of eight matches won by teams batting first. However, a slight tinge of grass and early cloud cover hinted at help for bowlers. RCB won the toss, and Patidar opted to bowl, aiming to exploit early moisture and chase under lights. PBKS, unchanged, relied on their batting depth, while RCB missed Tim David (injured) but stuck with a settled XI. Clear skies, 32°C temperatures, and 55% humidity set the stage for a gripping contest on May 29, 2025.

The pitch, with 75% red soil and a hint of grass, offered initial swing and seam, but flattened out, tempting big shots with boundaries at 61 and 67 meters square and 73 meters straight. Dew was minimal, but pace-off deliveries and tight lines were key for bowlers. With no rain threat, a full 20-over battle loomed.

Punjab Kings’ Innings: 101 All Out in 17.3 Overs

PBKS’s batting collapsed spectacularly after RCB chose to bowl. Josh Hazlewood struck early, removing Priyansh Arya for 4, caught by Virat Kohli at slip off a seaming outswinger in the second over. Prabhsimran Singh (12 off 10) edged Bhuvneshwar Kumar to keeper Phil Salt, leaving PBKS at 18 for 2 in 3 overs. Shreyas Iyer, the in-form captain, managed 15 off 14 before Krunal Pandya trapped him lbw with a skidding arm ball, sparking a slide to 39 for 3 in 6.2 overs.

Nehal Wadhera (9) and Josh Inglis (17) offered brief resistance, but Yash Dayal’s fiery spell—2 for 19—removed both, with Wadhera chopping on and Inglis caught at deep midwicket. Shashank Singh, PBKS’s season star, scratched to 11 off 18 before holing out to Liam Livingstone off Krunal Pandya, who finished with 3 for 16 in 4 overs. The lower order crumbled: Marcus Stoinis (6), Azmatullah Omarzai (2), and Kyle Jamieson (0) fell quickly to Hazlewood (3 for 22) and Romario Shepherd (2 for 21). Arshdeep Singh’s 15 off 12 added late runs, but PBKS folded for 101 in 17.3 overs—their lowest total of IPL 2025. RCB’s bowlers, led by Hazlewood and Pandya, exploited early movement and maintained relentless pressure.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Chase: 102/2 in 10 Overs

Chasing 102, RCB made light work of the target. Phil Salt and Virat Kohli opened with aggression, racing to 45 in 4 overs. Salt smashed 28 off 14, including three fours and a six off Arshdeep Singh, before skying a slower ball to Shreyas Iyer at mid-off. Mayank Agarwal fell for 9, caught by Josh Inglis off Kyle Jamieson, but Kohli (41 not out off 29, 5×4, 1×6) and Rajat Patidar (21 not out off 17) steadied the ship. Their unbroken 48-run stand, laced with crisp drives and a lofted six by Kohli off Yuzvendra Chahal, sealed the chase in 10 overs. RCB finished at 102 for 2, winning by 8 wickets with 60 balls to spare. PBKS’s bowlers—Arshdeep (1 for 28) and Jamieson (1 for 23)—lacked penetration, and Chahal’s 0 for 22 proved costly.

Key Moments and Turning Points

• Early Blows by Hazlewood: Dismissing Priyansh Arya in the second over set a dominant tone for RCB.
• Iyer’s Fall: Krunal Pandya’s lbw dismissal of Shreyas Iyer (15) in the seventh over triggered PBKS’s collapse.
• Krunal’s Masterclass: His 3 for 16, including Shashank Singh’s wicket, choked PBKS in the middle overs.
• Salt’s Explosive Start: Phil Salt’s 28 off 14, with a 16-run over off Arshdeep, buried PBKS early in the chase.
• Kohli-Patidar Finish: An unbeaten 48-run stand in 36 balls ended the game swiftly, showcasing RCB’s class.

As Rajat Patidar punched the winning run, RCB’s dugout erupted, with Virat Kohli roaring to the Ahmedabad crowd, arms outstretched. Fans chanted “RCB! RCB!” as the team celebrated their first final berth since 2016. Kohli, beaming, hugged coach Andy Flower, while Krunal Pandya earned Player of the Match for his 3 for 16. Patidar lauded the bowlers, saying, “Our plan was to bowl tight lines early, and the boys executed perfectly.” Shreyas Iyer, dejected, admitted PBKS “never got going,” citing poor shot selection and RCB’s relentless attack. PBKS, still alive, headed to Qualifier 2 against Mumbai Indians.

Key Performers

• Josh Hazlewood (RCB): 3 for 22 in 4 overs, early wickets of Arya and lower-order scalps set the tone.
• Krunal Pandya (RCB): 3 for 16 in 4 overs, Player of the Match for dismantling PBKS’s middle order.
• Virat Kohli (RCB): Unbeaten 41 off 29 (5×4, 1×6), anchored and finished the chase with flair.
• Phil Salt (RCB): 28 off 14, a fiery start crushed PBKS’s hopes early.
• Rajat Patidar (RCB): Unbeaten 21 off 17, calm support to Kohli sealed the win.
• Shreyas Iyer (PBKS): 15 off 14, top-scored in a dismal batting effort.
• Arshdeep Singh (PBKS): 1 for 28, took Salt’s wicket but couldn’t stem the tide.

RCB’s 8-wicket win, with 60 balls remaining, marked the second-largest victory by balls left in IPL playoff history, behind CSK’s 63-ball win in 2012. PBKS’s 101 all out was their lowest playoff total, a stark contrast to their 243 for 5 at Ahmedabad earlier in 2025. RCB improved their Qualifier 1 record to 2-2, having lost in 2011 and 2016. Krunal Pandya’s 3 for 16 was his best IPL playoff haul, adding to his reputation as a big-match player (2017 final, MI). The 101-run target was the lowest defended or chased in IPL 2025 playoffs.

RCB’s dominant display propelled them to the IPL 2025 final on June 3, 2025, at the same venue, a chance to end an 18-year wait for the trophy. Their bowling, once a weak link, proved decisive, with Hazlewood and Pandya exposing PBKS’s fragility. PBKS, stunned by the collapse, regrouped for Qualifier 2 against MI on June 1, 2025, still in contention for their maiden title. The match highlighted RCB’s transformation under Patidar, blending Kohli’s experience with a ruthless attack, and set the stage for a dramatic finale.

The IPL 2025 Qualifier 1 on May 29, 2025, at the Narendra Modi Stadium saw Royal Challengers Bengaluru crush Punjab Kings by 8 wickets in a lopsided affair. Bowling PBKS out for 101, thanks to Josh Hazlewood and Krunal Pandya’s brilliance, RCB chased the target in 10 overs, led by Virat Kohli’s 41 not out. This victory, a testament to RCB’s balance and hunger, booked their spot in the final, while PBKS faced a do-or-die clash. A night of dominance in Ahmedabad, this match will be remembered as RCB’s emphatic step toward IPL glory.