Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) slumped to their third defeat on the trot at home in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. On Friday, Punjab Kings (PBKS) hammered RCB by five wickets in the rain-curtailed 14-over match at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. After a lengthy delay, the match started at 9:45 PM IST, after which the Kings didn’t allow RCB much breathing space.
RCB vs PBKS, IPL 2025 Highlights
While RCB have won all their four away matches, their performances at home have been disastrous to say the least. In fact, RCB have lost seven matches in a row at the Chinnaswamy, since the women’s team, led by Smriti Mandhana, also couldn’t win any of their four matches in the Women’s Premier League (WPL). Meanwhile, win the win, PBKS went to second in the table.
Tim David the saving grace for RCB
After being asked to bat first, RCB found themselves in dire straits, reduced to 42 for seven in just 8.2 overs. Apart from Rajat Patidar, none of their top six batters managed to reach double figures. Arshdeep Singh struck early by dismissing Phil Salt, a wicket that made him the leading wicket-taker for PBKS in IPL history. He then claimed the crucial scalp of Virat Kohli, who was unable to get going.
RCB endured a dismal powerplay, scoring just 26 runs in four overs while losing three wickets. Patidar attempted to inject some momentum with a brisk 23 off 18 balls, but Yuzvendra Chahal soon removed him. Manoj Bhandage, making his IPL debut as an Impact Player after Liam Livingstone was subbed out, scored only one before Marco Jansen trapped him plumb in front.
RCB vs PBKS, IPL 2025 | Scorecard
With the score at 47 for seven after 10 overs, Tim David stepped up and helped RCB post a somewhat respectable total of 95 for nine. The Australian batter launched a counter-attack, remaining unbeaten on 50 from 26 deliveries, including five fours and three sixes. In the final over, he took the attack to left-arm spinner Harpreet Brar, plundering 21 runs.
Brar, who was on a hat-trick after dismissing Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Yash Dayal, started the last over with three dot balls. However, David turned the tide with three consecutive sixes – one of which came off a no-ball. He then ran a couple off the free hit to bring up his maiden IPL fifty.
For the Kings, Arshdeep, Jansen, Chahal, and Brar each picked up two wickets, while Australian pacer Xavier Bartlett dismissed Livingstone.
All too easy for Kings
Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh, who came in as an Impact Substitute for Chahal, gave PBKS a steady start in their run chase. The pair added 22 runs for the opening wicket in 2.4 overs before Bhuvneshwar Kumar dismissed Prabhsimran, who managed 13 runs with two boundaries.
Josh Hazlewood then accounted for the other opener, Priyansh, after the left-hander raced to 16 off just 11 deliveries. Attempting a pull shot, Priyansh mistimed it and was caught by Tim David, who ran to his right from mid-off. David had earlier taken the catch to dismiss Prabhsimran as well.
Although PBKS lost both openers during the powerplay, they managed to score 33 runs – significantly better than RCB’s effort in the same phase.
Josh Inglis got going with back-to-back boundaries off Krunal Pandya in his first over. In the eighth over, Josh Hazlewood showcased all his experience to pull PBKS back into the contest, dismissing Shreyas Iyer and then Inglis, who had settled in on 14 off 17 deliveries.
Hazlewood finished with outstanding figures of 3-0-14-3. However, with the required rate creeping up, Nehal Wadhera responded by striking Suyash Sharma for a four and a six, leaving PBKS needing 33 runs from the final 30 balls.
With 32 required off 24, Wadhera continued his assault, taking 15 runs off Suyash to reduce the equation to 17 from 18 balls. The left-hander kept the momentum going, collecting 12 runs off the 12th over by dispatching Bhuvneshwar Kumar for a six and a four.
Marcus Stoinis, who had replaced Glenn Maxwell in the playing XI, sealed the win with a six off Yash Dayal, as PBKS chased down the target with 11 balls to spare. Wadhera remained unbeaten on 33 off 19, playing a vital role in the lower middle order.
