Punjab Kings Clinch Five-Wicket Victory Over RCB in Rain-Hit IPL 2025 Clash
In a rain-affected 34th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, Punjab Kings (PBKS) secured a five-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. The match, shortened to 14 overs per side due to a wet outfield, marked RCB’s third consecutive home defeat in the season.
Rain delayed the start of the game, with the toss eventually taking place at 9:30 PM IST. Punjab Kings, led by Shreyas Iyer, won the toss and elected to bowl first against Rajat Patidar’s RCB. The reduced-over game set the stage for a fast-paced encounter, but RCB's innings fell short of expectations.
RCB's batting unit stumbled early, with Punjab's bowlers capitalizing on the damp conditions. Arshdeep Singh, Marco Jansen, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Harpreet Brar all claimed two wickets apiece, while Xavier Bartlett chipped in with one. The hosts were reeling at 50/6 before Tim David stepped up with a defiant knock.
David remained unbeaten on 50 off 26 balls, smashing boundaries and offering RCB a lifeline. Skipper Rajat Patidar contributed 23 from 18 balls, but the rest of the lineup faltered. No other batter managed to reach double digits, and RCB were restricted to 95/9 in their 14 overs.
Chasing a modest target of 96, Punjab Kings got off to a decent start. Openers Priyansh Arya (16) and Prabhsimran Singh (13) stitched together a 22-run partnership before both were dismissed by the fourth over. The team adopted a cautious approach following the early wickets, and at the end of the sixth over, needed 50 runs from 48 balls.
RCB momentarily turned the tide in the eighth over. Josh Hazlewood struck twice, dismissing PBKS skipper Shreyas Iyer (7) and Josh Inglis (14). Iyer’s dismissal came via a fine edge caught behind by Jitesh Sharma, while Inglis holed out to Suyash Sharma at deep third man. Hazlewood’s double strike left Punjab needing 43 runs from 36 balls with pressure mounting.
However, Nehal Wadhera changed the game’s momentum in the ninth over. He cracked two consecutive boundaries in the final balls of the over to ease the pressure. Wadhera continued his assault in the 11th over, hammering RCB spinner Suyash Sharma for a six followed by back-to-back fours, accumulating 15 runs in the over and swinging the game back in Punjab’s favor.
With the chase nearly completed, Marcus Stoinis finished in style, launching Yash Dayal over deep midwicket for a six to seal the win in the 13th over.
This victory gives PBKS crucial points in the mid-season phase of the IPL, while RCB continues to search for form as their playoff hopes take a hit with another disappointing home performance.
Punjab’s disciplined bowling, led by a collective team effort, and calculated batting approach ensured they came out on top in the rain-curtailed thriller.
