Image: The Royal Challengers Bengaluru crushed their opponents and advanced to the IPL 2025 final / © News18
One of the most amazing nights for Royal Challengers Bengaluru fans unfolded on May 29, 2025, at New Chandigarh Stadium in Mohali during Qualifier 1 of IPL 2025. Facing Punjab Kings, RCB delivered a clinical performance, bowling out PBKS for 101 in 14.1 overs and chasing the target in just 10 overs, securing an 8-wicket victory with 60 balls to spare. This triumph, the largest by balls remaining in IPL playoff history, propelled RCB into their first final since 2016.
Punjab Kings, opting to bat first after Shreyas Iyer won the toss, suffered a dramatic batting collapse, bowled out for 101 in 14.1 overs. The innings started with promise but unravelled quickly due to reckless shot selection and RCB’s disciplined bowling. Openers Priyansh Arya (7 off 5, 1×4, SR 140) and Prabhsimran Singh (18 off 10, 2×4, 1×6, SR 180) provided a brisk start, reaching 27/1 in 2.5 overs. Arya’s early boundary off Bhuvneshwar Kumar (4 off 3) and Prabhsimran’s aggressive play, including a six off Yash Dayal (6 off 1), hinted at a solid powerplay. However, Dayal’s breakthrough, dismissing Arya via a catch at cover (7 off 5), triggered the slide.
Josh Hazlewood, returning from injury, was the wrecker-in-chief, finishing with 3/21 in 3.1 overs (Econ 6.77). His first scalp, Shreyas Iyer (2 off 3, SR 66.66), came via a thick edge to keeper Jitesh Sharma, leaving PBKS at 31/3 in 3.4 overs. Hazlewood’s extra bounce and movement troubled the batsmen, as seen when he dismissed Josh Inglis (4 off 7, SR 57.14) with a top-edged pull caught by Bhuvneshwar at fine leg (48/4 in 5.1 overs). His final blow ended the innings, with Azmatullah Omarzai (18 off 12, 1×4, 1×6, SR 150) edging to Jitesh, who took a stunning diving catch.
Suyash Sharma, named Player of the Match, was equally devastating, claiming 3/17 in 3 overs (Econ 5.67). His googlies bamboozled PBKS’s middle order, starting with Shashank Singh (3 off 5, SR 60), who bowled attempting a wild swing (61/6 in 8.2 overs). Musheer Khan, the impact sub, fell for a three-ball duck, lbw to another googly (61/7 in 8.5 overs). Suyash’s third wicket, Marcus Stoinis (26 off 17, 2×4, 2×6, SR 152.94), came when Stoinis misread a tossed-up delivery, bowled through the gate (78/8 in 10.3 overs). Stoinis had briefly counterattacked, hitting a six off Hazlewood (6 off 1) and a four off Krunal Pandya (4 off 1), but his dismissal ended PBKS’s hopes.
Yash Dayal supported with 2/26 in 4 overs (Econ 6.50), removing Nehal Wadhera (8 off 10, 1×4, SR 80) by shattering his stumps (52/5 in 6.3 overs). Romario Shepherd chipped in with 1/5, dismissing Harpreet Brar (4 off 11, SR 36.36), who chopped on (101/9 in 13.3 overs). Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s 1/17 included Prabhsimran’s wicket (27/2 in 2.6 overs), caught behind. PBKS’s powerplay yielded 48/4, but the middle overs (7-14) saw them lose 5 wickets for 53 runs. Omarzai’s late resistance, including a six off Suyash (6 off 1), pushed PBKS past 100, but their 39 runs from the top five was the second-lowest in IPL playoff history.
Chasing a modest 102, Royal Challengers Bengaluru completed the task in just 10 overs, finishing at 106/2, with Phil Salt’s blistering 56 off 27 (6×4, 3×6, SR 207.41) leading the charge. The chase was a masterclass in controlled aggression, with RCB’s openers exploiting PBKS’s wayward bowling. Salt and Virat Kohli (12 off 12, 2×4, SR 100) started strongly, scoring 11/0 in the first over off Arshdeep Singh (1-0-7-0). Kohli’s pull for four (4 off 2) and a leg-bye four set the tone, while Salt’s patient start (1 off 2) soon gave way to fireworks.
The powerplay saw RCB race to 61/1 in 6 overs, with Salt dominating. Arshdeep’s second over cost 13 runs, including Salt’s six over midwicket (6 off 6) and a top-edged four (4 off 4). Kyle Jamieson (3-1-27-1) provided PBKS’s only breakthrough, dismissing Kohli, caught behind off an away-swinger (30/1 in 3.2 overs). Jamieson’s wicket-maiden, beating Mayank Agarwal (19 off 13, 2×4, 1×6, SR 146.15) repeatedly, briefly slowed RCB, but Salt’s onslaught resumed. Jamieson’s third over leaked 21 runs, with Salt hammering a cover drive (4 off 4), a front-foot pull (4 off 5), and a lofted six over covers (6 off 6).
Azmatullah Omarzai’s lone over (1-0-10-0) was punished, with Salt’s cut for four (4 off 3) and a deft late cut (4 off 6) showcasing his range. Harpreet Brar (2-0-18-0) and Musheer Khan (2-0-27-1) tried spin, but Salt’s power play stats (40 off 18, 5×4, 2×6) overwhelmed them. Brar’s second over saw Salt pull a six (6 off 2) and cut a four (4 off 5), while Musheer’s first over yielded 13 runs, including Agarwal’s straight six (6 off 3) and an inside-out four (4 off 4). Musheer claimed Agarwal, caught by Iyer off a faint edge (85/2 in 7.5 overs), but the damage was done.
Rajat Patidar (15 off 8, 1×4, 1×6, SR 187.50) sealed the chase with a six off Musheer (6 off 6), lofting a full ball over midwicket to spark celebrations. Salt’s 23-ball fifty, his fastest in the IPL, included a 181.44 SR against PBKS in T20s, underlining his dominance. RCB’s run rate of 10.60 never dipped, with 9.73 in the powerplay. PBKS’s bowlers struggled, with Arshdeep (2-0-20-0) leaking runs and Jamieson’s early wicket undone by his expensive third over. Omarzai and Brar failed to stem the flow, while Musheer’s solitary wicket was a consolation.
RCB’s chase was clinical, with Salt’s aggression and Patidar’s finishing touch ensuring no hiccups. The 50-run partnership between Salt and Agarwal (off 27 balls) and RCB’s ability to exploit PBKS’s poor lines highlighted their superiority. This performance, backed by a bowling effort led by Suyash (3/17) and Hazlewood (3/21), now takes them to the Finals.
The TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game came in the third over of Punjab Kings’ chase, where Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s crafty bowling turned the tide against a rampant Prabhsimran Singh. Punjab Kings, chasing a daunting target, were off to a brisk start at 27/2 after three overs, with a healthy run rate of 9.00. Prabhsimran was in full flow, dominating Bhuvneshwar with 18 runs off 10 balls, including two fours and a six, at a strike rate of 180. His aggressive intent was clear as he charged down the track twice in the over, first lofting a length ball over mid-off for four in the third ball, despite the bat turning in his hands. Then he swings another length delivery over mid-on for another boundary in the fourth.
But Bhuvneshwar, the seasoned campaigner, had the last laugh. After Prabhsimran guided a short-of-length ball to short third, where Romario Shepherd made a diving stop, Bhuvneshwar tightened his game. In the final ball, he outsmarted Prabhsimran with a shortened length on off stump. Prabhsimran, jumping down again for a big slog, got a thin edge, and Jitesh Sharma completed the catch.
Apart from being the second-best bowler for the RCB team, Josh Hazlewood was awarded TCNI’s Hero of the Day for his devastating spell in Qualifier 1 of IPL 2025 against Punjab Kings on May 29 in Mohali. Returning from injury, Hazlewood’s 3/21 in 3.1 overs (Econ 6.63) dismantled PBKS, bowling them out for 101 in 14.1 overs. His disciplined pace and bounce were pivotal, claiming key wickets that triggered a collapse. Hazlewood struck early, dismissing Shreyas Iyer (2 off 3) in the 4th over with a sharp, good-length ball edged to keeper Jitesh Sharma, leaving PBKS at 30/3.
He then removed Josh Inglis (4 off 7) in the 6th over, a short ball inducing a top-edged pull caught at fine leg (48/4). His final blow ended PBKS’s innings, with Azmatullah Omarzai (18 off 12) edging a length ball to Jitesh’s diving catch (101/10). Delivering 10 dot balls and conceding just 2 fours and 1 six, Hazlewood’s accuracy and movement on a grassy pitch exposed PBKS’s inexperience. His spell, backed by Suyash Sharma’s 3/17, ensured RCB’s dominance, paving their path to the final with a clinical 8-wicket win.