Punjab Kings (PBKS) defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by 5 wickets in the 34th match of IPL 2025 played at Lalbhai Contractor Stadium in Surat.
Rain disrupted the match in Surat before the start, due to which the toss was delayed.
However, due to lack of time, the overs were reduced from 20 to 14 for both the teams.
Punjab Kings won the toss and chose to bowl, and the bowlers got help on a rain-affected pitch, which made it difficult for the batsmen to score runs.
RCB batted first and scored 95/9 in 14 overs, in response to which Punjab won by scoring 98/5 in 12.1 overs.
Nahal Wadhera’s unbeaten 33 and Josh Hazlewood’s superb bowling (3/14) played a decisive role in the match.
1st innings: Royal Challengers Bangalore 95/9 (14 overs)
RCB got off to a poor start, with Phil Salt (4) and Virat Kohli (1) getting dismissed in the first three overs. Captain Rajat Patidar (23) and Tim David (50) held the innings together, but Punjab bowlers took wickets at regular intervals.
Liam Livingstone (4), Jitesh Sharma (2), and Krunal Pandya (1) got out cheaply. David’s 26-ball 50 took the score to 95/9.
Marco Jansen (2/10), Yuzvendra Chahal (2/11), and Harpreet Brar (2/25) bowled tight for Punjab.
Top scorers of Royal Challengers Bangalore
- Tim David: 50 runs (26 balls, 5 fours, 3 sixes)
- Rajat Patidar: 23 runs (18 balls, 1 four, 1 six)
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar: 8 runs (13 balls, 1 four, 0 sixes)
- Phil Salt: 4 runs (4 balls, 1 four, 0 sixes)
Top bowlers of Punjab Kings
- Marco Johnson: 3 overs, 10 runs, 2 wickets
- Yuzvendra Chahal: 3 overs, 11 runs, 2 wickets
- Harpreet Brar: 2 overs, 25 runs, 2 wickets
- Arshdeep Singh: 3 overs, 23 runs, 2 wickets
- Xavier Bartlett: 3 overs, 26 runs, 1 wicket
Second innings: Punjab Kings 98/5 (12.1 overs)
Punjab came out to chase the target of 96 runs The start was fast. Priyansh Arya (16) and Prabhsimran Singh (13) gave early blows, but Nahal Wadhera (33*) handled the innings with patience and aggression.
Captain Shreyas Iyer (7) and Josh Inglis (14) could not score many runs. Marcus Stoinis (7*) finally hit a six to ensure victory in 12.1 overs.
Josh Hazlewood (3/14) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2/26) impressed for RCB, but other bowlers proved expensive.
Top scorers of Punjab Kings
- Nahal Wadhera: 33* runs (19 balls, 3 fours, 3 sixes)
- Priyansh Arya: 16 runs (11 balls, 1 four, 1 six)
- Josh Inglis: 14 runs (17 balls, 2 fours, 0 sixes)
- Prabhsimran Singh: 13 runs (9 balls, 2 fours, 0 sixes)
Top bowlers of Royal Challengers Bangalore
- Josh Hazlewood: 3 overs, 14 runs, 3 wickets
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar: 3 overs, 26 runs, 2 wickets
- Yash Dayal: 2.1 overs, 18 runs, 0 wickets
- Suyash Sharma: 3 overs, 25 runs, 0 wickets
- Krunal Pandya: 1 over, 10 runs, 0 wickets
Decisive moment of the match
The decisive moment of the match came in the 11th over of the second innings, When Bhuvneshwar Kumar dismissed Shashank Singh (1) Punjab were reduced to 81/5.
Nahal Wadhera then hit consecutive sixes in the 12th over against Suyash Sharma which brought Punjab closer to victory. In the 12.1st over Marcus Stoinis hit a six off Yash Dayal to give Punjab a 5-wicket win.
