Match Summary:
 

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) bounced back in style to defeat Punjab Kings (PBKS) by seven wickets in their latest IPL 2025 encounter, thanks to stellar half-centuries from Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal. Kohli remained unbeaten on 73, while Padikkal smashed a fluent 61 as RCB comfortably chased down the target in Mullanpur.

Toss & Team News:
 

RCB skipper Rajat Patidar won the toss and opted to bowl first. The visitors made one change, bringing in West Indies all-rounder Romario Shepherd in place of Liam Livingstone. PBKS, placed third on the table, fielded an unchanged XI.

Playing XIs:
 

• Punjab Kings: Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya, Shreyas Iyer (c), Josh Inglis (wk), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal
   
• Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Philip Salt, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar (c), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Suyash Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal

PBKS Bat First – Strong Start, But Collapse Follows
 

Punjab Kings came out aggressively and posted a quick start in the Powerplay. However, once the spinners were introduced, wickets began to tumble. Krunal Pandya struck twice, removing both openers, and the pace duo of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood tightened the noose at the death with pinpoint yorkers. PBKS failed to capitalise on their good start and struggled to accelerate at the end.

RCB Bowlers Shine:
 

RCB’s bowling unit was on point from start to finish. Krunal's double breakthrough turned the tide, while Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar closed the innings with precision. Their combined efforts restricted PBKS to a below-par total.

RCB’s Chase – Calm and Calculated:
 

Despite losing Phil Salt in the opening over, RCB’s chase never looked in trouble. Kohli and Padikkal stitched together a match-winning 103-run stand. Padikkal played the aggressor before falling for 61, while Kohli anchored the innings, finishing with an unbeaten 73 off 54 balls.

Kohli Breaks IPL Record:
 

During his innings, Virat Kohli etched his name in the IPL record books once again. He now holds the record for the most fifty-plus scores in IPL history – 67 in total (59 fifties, 8 centuries) – surpassing David Warner’s 66.

Kohli Named Player of the Match:
 

Post-match, Kohli downplayed his personal milestone, choosing instead to praise Padikkal and the team’s collective performance. “Every game counts at this stage,” he said. “Adaptability is key, and it’s great to see how we’re learning from our past mistakes.”

Captain’s Take – Patidar & Iyer Reflect:
 

RCB captain Rajat Patidar credited his bowlers for executing their plans on a slower pitch. “The fielding and bowling were outstanding. We stuck to simple strategies and got the rewards,” he said.

PBKS skipper Shreyas Iyer acknowledged his team’s missed opportunities, stating, “We couldn’t build on our starts and lost momentum in the middle overs. Credit to Kohli for his composed knock. We’ll use the upcoming break to reassess and come back stronger.”

Devdutt Padikkal on His Partnership with Kohli:
 

Speaking at the presentation, Padikkal highlighted the importance of his partnership with Kohli. “It was crucial to settle things after Salt’s early dismissal. Batting with Virat gives you confidence – you know he’ll anchor the innings.”

What’s Next:
 

This victory sees RCB climb to five wins this season — all away from home — while PBKS register their third loss. With momentum now on their side, RCB will look to maintain their push for the playoffs.

Meanwhile, the first of Sunday’s doubleheaders ends on a high for Bengaluru. Up next, fans can switch tabs to catch the much-anticipated IPL El Clasico: Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings at Wankhede.