Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Punjab Kings Indian Premier League, 2025
Match 34, M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, 18 Apr, 2025

Royal Challengers Bengaluru
RCB
95/9
(14.0) ov

Punjab Kings
PBKS
98/5
(12.1) ov
Punjab Kings beat Royal Challengers Bengaluru by 5 wickets
Player Of The Match
Tim David,
Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Batter | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
P Arya c T David b J Hazlewood |
16 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 145.45 |
P Singh
InP Singh OutYuzvendra Chahal c T David b B Kumar |
13 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 144.44 |
S Iyer c J Sharma b J Hazlewood |
7 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 70 |
J Inglis c S Sharma b J Hazlewood |
14 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 82.35 |
N Wadhera not out | 33 | 19 | 3 | 3 | 173.68 |
S Singh c P Salt b B Kumar |
1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
M Stoinis not out | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 350 |
Extras
(b 4,lb 1,w 2,nb 0,Penalty 0) |
7 | ||||
Total
12.1 (RR: 8.05)
|
98/5 |
Did not bat: M Jansen, H Brar, X Bartlett, A Singh, Y Chahal
InPrabhsimran Singh
OutY Chahal
InPrabhsimran Singh
OutY Chahal
Fall of wickets:
(P Singh, 2.4 ov) (P Arya, 3.4 ov) (S Iyer, 7.4 ov) (J Inglis, 8 ov) (S Singh, 11.3 ov)Bowler | O | M | R | W | ER |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
B Kumar |
3 | 0 | 26 | 2 | 8.66 |
Y Dayal |
2.1 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 8.30 |
J Hazlewood |
3 | 0 | 14 | 3 | 4.66 |
K Pandya |
1 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10.00 |
S Sharma |
3 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 8.33 |
Batter | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
P Salt c J Inglis b A Singh |
4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 100 |
V Kohli c M Jansen b A Singh |
1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
R Patidar c X Bartlett b Y Chahal |
23 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 127.77 |
L Livingstone
InManoj Bhandage OutL Livingstone c P Arya b X Bartlett |
4 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 66.66 |
J Sharma c N Wadhera b Y Chahal |
2 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 28.57 |
K Pandya c & b M Jansen |
1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50 |
T David not out | 50 | 26 | 5 | 3 | 192.30 |
M Bhandage
InM Bhandage OutLiam Livingstone lbw b M Jansen |
1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 25 |
B Kumar c X Bartlett b H Brar |
8 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 61.53 |
Y Dayal lbw b H Brar |
0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
J Hazlewood not out | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Extras
(b 0,lb 0,w 0,nb 1,Penalty 0) |
1 | ||||
Total
14.0 (RR: 6.79)
|
95/9 |
Did not bat: S Sharma
Fall of wickets:
(P Salt, 0.4 ov) (V Kohli, 2.4 ov) (L Livingstone, 4 ov) (J Sharma, 5.5 ov) (K Pandya, 6.1 ov) (R Patidar, 7.4 ov) (M Bhandage, 8.2 ov) (B Kumar, 11.4 ov) (Y Dayal, 11.5 ov)Bowler | O | M | R | W | ER |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
A Singh |
3 | 0 | 23 | 2 | 7.66 |
X Bartlett |
3 | 0 | 26 | 1 | 8.66 |
M Jansen |
3 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 3.33 |
Y Chahal
InPrabhsimran Singh OutY Chahal |
3 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 3.66 |
H Brar |
2 | 0 | 25 | 2 | 12.50 |
Punjab Kings • 98/5 (12.1 overs)
N Wadhera 33 (19)
P Arya 16 (11)
J Hazlewood 3/14 (3)
B Kumar 2/26 (3)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru • 95/9 (14.0 overs)
T David 50 (26)
R Patidar 23 (18)
M Jansen 2/10 (3)
Y Chahal 2/11 (3)
Commentary
We are back with Punjab Kings' reply! The umpires are out in the middle, and so are the players. Prabhsimran Singh comes in as an impact substitute, replacing Yuzvendra Chahal and will open with Priyansh Arya. Bhuvneshwar Kumar has the new ball in hand and will start the proceedings. Away we go!
... THE RUN CHASE ...
96 is the target then for Punjab Kings. Given how the pitch is playing, it shouldn’t be a daunting chase, but RCB might just carry a hint of momentum from that late surge by Tim David. They’ll need something truly special with the ball - early wickets, sharp fielding, and relentless pressure, if they’re to make a game out of this. It’s a small total, but stranger things have happened in this format. Back in a bit to see how it all pans out!
For Punjab Kings, it was a near-perfect outing with the ball and in the field. The pacers set the tone early, and every bowling change from Shreyas Iyer worked like a charm. It was a clinical display of execution and intent. Barring Xavier Bartlett, who picked up one wicket, every other bowler chipped in with two each, rounding off a thoroughly dominant performance that never let RCB breathe until the final few overs.
Nine single-digit scores and only two batters crossing eight runs tell the tale of a dismal batting effort. With no Devdutt Padikkal in the XI, Rajat Patidar stepped in at number 3 and managed to get a few away, but Punjab’s bowlers were relentless, striking at both ends and never letting up. Amid the collapse, it was Tim David who held his nerve. From 42/7, he launched a counterattack while wickets kept falling at the other end, and took Harpreet Brar apart in the final over to bring up a gritty half-century and drag RCB to 95/9, a total that at least gives their bowlers something to fight with.
A 14-over contest isn’t exactly too short, but RCB looked like they were stuck in one gear throughout, losing wickets in clusters and showing little intent to adapt. Their ultra-aggressive approach backfired, with every batter swinging from ball one without assessing conditions or reading the bowlers, something that becomes even more crucial in a rain-trimmed game.
Punjab Kings have landed a thunderous blow, restricting the home side to a mere 95 runs. It was Tim David who saved RCB from a complete collapse, injecting some late life into an otherwise lifeless innings. After all the rain, the long wait, and a shortened contest, RCB simply couldn’t find their rhythm. What was expected to be a fireworks show turned into a fizzle - bar that brief blitz from David, which at least gives them something to defend. Punjab, though, will be absolutely thrilled with their effort.
Runs Scored 21 Runs
Score after 14 overs : 95/9
T David50 (26)
J Hazlewood0 (1)
H Brar2-0-25-2
FIFTY FOR TIM DAVID! The first half century of David's IPL career, and it could not have come at a better time for RCB. Speared in, very full, on middle, David clears his front leg and swipes it to the right of deep mid-wicket and comes charging back for the second run. 21 runs off the final over and RCB finish with 95 on the board!
SIX! Hat-trick of sixes from Tim David to close out the innings! Oh, hang on, the siren goes off for overstepping. Harpreet Brar goes for the wide yorker on off, Tim stays leg side of the ball and gets under the ball. Carves it over cover for yet another six. NO BALL called. Free Hit coming up.
SIX! TWO IN TWO! A freebie and Tim David climbs all over it! A half-tracker, slower in the air, on leg, David goes on the back foot and deposits it over square leg for six more.
SIX! Absolutely belted! Brar ends up offering width on off, on a nagging length, Tim frees his arms and parks it behind long off for a six.
On a nagging length, on middle, Tim David swats it on the bounce to deep mid-wicket. Three dots in a row!
Slows it down and this is a bit full, on middle. It is there in the slot but David loses his shape as he swings. Miscues it to deep square leg. No single taken.
Slanting in with the arm from around the wicket, on middle and leg, David ekes out an inside edge that rolls down to deep backward square leg.
Runs Scored 11 Runs
Score after 13 overs : 74/9
T David30 (19)
J Hazlewood0 (1)
X Bartlett3-0-26-1
Xavier keeps it full, around off, David takes it on the full and eases it with a straight bat to long off to keep the strike with a single.
Square leg comes up and backward point goes back on the fence. Xavier Bartlett goes for the wide yorker but does not quite get it full enough, Tim drills it to deep cover but does not take the single.
FOUR! Hammered away! Xavier Bartlett goes short and takes pace off, outside off. It sits up to be hit and David nails the pull all along the ground to the right of deep mid-wicket for a boundary.
An off-cutter into the surface, outside off, Tim waits for it on the back foot and cuts it to the left of deep point for a couple of runs.
FOUR! Agricultural but effective! A cross-seam delivery, on off, on a length, Tim David swings across the line with all his might and hits it to the right of deep mid-wicket for a boundary.
Xavier Bartlett lands it full, on off, Tim David drives it down to long off but decides not to take the single.
Xavier Bartlett (2-0-15-1) comes back into the attack now.
Runs Scored 4 Runs
Score after 12 overs : 63/9
J Hazlewood0 (1)
T David19 (13)
H Brar1-0-4-2
Safely negotiated by Josh Hazlewood! From over the wicket to the left-hander, bowled from wide of the crease, turning in, on middle, Josh Hazlewood watchully defends.
Josh Hazlewood is the last batter in for Royal Challengers Bengaluru and will face the Hat-Trick ball from Harpreet Brar!
OUT! PLUMB IN FRONT! Harpreet Brar has two in two and RCB slip further into trouble. This slides on with the arm from around the wicket, at the stumps, on a length, Yash just hangs his bat out there to defend but the ball skids through and comes in with the arm to sneak past the inside edge. The ball brushes the front pad before hitting him on the back leg. The finger is raised. Dayal looks at David but decides to keep walking.
Yash Dayal is the next batter in for Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
OUT! TAKEN! One shot too many for Bhuvneshwar Kumar! Harpreet Brar slows it down and gets the ball to spin away a bit from the right-hander, around off, on a nagging length, Bhuvneshwar Kumar goes for a cross-batted lofted stroke down the ground. Hits it straight down the throat of long off. Xavier Bartlett runs in a bit initially but does well in the end, taking a couple of steps back and getting both his hands over the head to complete the catch. RCB are now 63/8.
FOUR! Slammed away! Fired in, on off, on a nagging length, Bhuvneshwar Kumar gets the width he needs and slaps it to the left of cover for a boundary.
Darted in a bit fuller this time, Kumar goes on the back foot and tucks it to a straightish short mid-wicket.
Spears it in, short and on off, Bhuvneshwar Kumar plays it back to Brar.
Harpreet Brar comes into the attack now.
Commentary
With this win, the Punjab Kings climb to second spot in the standings, while Royal Challengers Bengaluru drop to fourth. These two teams will lock horns again in an afternoon game in Mullanpur on Sunday, 20th April, but that’s for later. On Saturday, 19th April, a double-header awaits us. The first game of the day will see the Gujarat Titans taking on the Delhi Capitals at 3.30 pm IST (10 am GMT). This will be followed by the Rajasthan Royals squaring off against the Lucknow Super Giants at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT). As always, our build-up for both games will begin a lot sooner. See you then. Cheers!
Tim David is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his quickfire fifty, albeit in a losing cause. He says batting lower in the order gives him time to assess the conditions, and the practice pitches also played similarly here, which helped. Talks about his role and feels he is batting well and contributing, and will do what the team and coaches ask of him. Adds that going hard from ball one is something that a player will have to become comfortable with and he is pleased with how he is doing it so far, and says it was trickier in this game with not many wickets left. Talks about the importance of finding a way to turn things around at home and jokes about coming hard at Punjab at their home next.
The captain of the Punjab Kings, Shreyas Iyer, says that it's always good to experience different kinds of games and conditions. Mentions that they took wickets regularly, with Marco Jansen being particularly lethal with the ball. Acknowledges the importance of steadying the ship in the middle overs and how the bowlers adapted well to the conditions, with hard length balls proving difficult for the batters to handle. He commends his bowlers for executing their plans fantastically and emphasises the need for one batter to take charge in such situations. States that he is pleased that Nehal Wadhera played that role and guided his team over the line. Hopes that Nehal continues to perform in this manner moving forward. Feels that Yuzvendra Chahal has probably been the bowler of the season so far and the chat with him has been about not being defensive and always going for the wickets.
Time for the presentation ceremony...
Marco Jansen is in for a chat. He says he is feeling very good about the win and about the conditions too, as there was a little pace and bounce in the wicket. Tells that everyone has a role in the team, and accordingly, whatever role he gets, he is happy to do that to the best of his ability. He mentions he is used to taking the new ball upfront, but the team has a lot of players who can take wickets upfront, and that’s why he is ready to be used in the overs his team needs him. States that Iyer’s captaincy is very good and that he is very clear on the field. Adds that Iyer knows what is expected from the bowlers, and accordingly, it works either way. Mentions that they have lots of talks in the nets while practising, and thus it helps. He jokingly says he didn’t dive to take the catch, but he fell over. Shares that having someone like Yuzvendra Chahal is great. Further says that it helps the seamers upfront to go aggressive, as they know that there will be a bowler like him in the middle overs who can take wickets.
Rajat Patidar, the captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, says initially the wicket was two-paced, but also agrees that they could have done better as a batting unit. Adds that building partnerships is crucial, and losing wickets at regular intervals didn't help. Says dropping Devdutt Padikkal was a tough call, but was done keeping the surface in mind. Appreciates the way Punjab Kings played and says they take a lot of learnings, and concludes that they are in a good frame of mind and will look to do better going ahead.
Earlier, Shreyas Iyer had no hesitation in opting to bowl first in a rain-curtailed 14-over contest. RCB went too hard at the start and didn’t give themselves enough time to assess the conditions. PBKS were sharp with the ball and equally alert in the field to capitalise, reducing RCB to 42/7 at one stage. However, Tim David's maiden IPL fifty brought some respectability to the total, lifting them to 95.
With only 96 runs to chase, the Punjab Kings did lose both openers early, but not before getting a couple of boundaries away. There was never any real scoreboard pressure, but to their credit, RCB didn’t let PBKS run away with it either. Josh Hazlewood led the charge and even gave them a glimmer of hope with a double strike. However, Nehal Wadhera was the calming influence Punjab needed. He batted with maturity, guiding his side over the line and ensuring they didn’t botch the chase.
Back-to-back wins for the Punjab Kings! After that blip in Hyderabad, where they couldn't defend 245, the Kings have bounced back in style with a couple of statement victories. As for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, it’s now three home defeats on the trot. Sent in to bat, they never really came to grips with the steep bounce on offer. They had more time than they thought with the bat and simply didn’t put enough runs on the board.
SIX! BANG! That's a thumping shot to seal the game by 5 wickets. Yash Dayal serves it right in the slot, on middle and off, Marcus Stoinis winds up and heaves it over deep mid-wicket for a biggie to wrap things up. Punjab Kings win by 5 wickets and 11 balls to spare.
Runs Scored 12 Runs
Score after 12 overs : 92/5
N Wadhera33 (19)
M Stoinis1 (1)
B Kumar3-0-26-2
FOUR! Top shot! Gets his side within touching distance now. Short of a length, outside off, Nehal Wadhera weighs on the back foot and slaps it through covers for a boundary to end the over. Punjab Kings need just 4 more runs off the last two overs now.
SIX! Ice in the veins for Nehal, surely! Back of a length, on the hips, he swivels back and pulls it behind square on the leg side for a six.
Hard length, angling in, over off, Marcus Stoinis punches at it and gets a thick outside edge that dribbles to deep third for a single.
Marcus Stoinis is in next.
OUT! CAUGHT! Shashank Singh holes out! Bhuvneshwar Kumar serves it on a back of a length, angling it into the batter, on middle and leg, Shashank Singh makes a bit of room and looks to go big, straight back over the bowler's head, but only gets height and not the distance. Phil Salt takes a straightforward catch at long on.
Back of a length, over middle, Nehal Wadhera steps out and swipes it to deep square leg for a single.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar comes back into the attack and angles it across, around off, on a length, Nehal Wadhera cuts it straight to backward point.
Runs Scored 15 Runs
Score after 11 overs : 80/4
N Wadhera22 (15)
S Singh1 (4)
S Sharma3-0-25-0
Full, on off, Nehal Wadhera taps it to backward point and takes a single. 15 runs come off this over and Punjab Kings now need just 16 more runs off 18 balls.
Swing and a miss! Serves the googly, outside off, Nehal gets down for the slog sweep but fails to connect.
Nicely bowled! Full and around off, skids through quicker to go past the outside edge as Nehal looks to push at it.
FOUR! Absolutely crunched! Suyash Sharma is becoming a bit too predictable, and Nehal Wadhera is making him pay. Full and outside off, turning away, Nehal Wadhera frees his arms and thumps it through covers.
FOUR BYES! It's all going Punjab's way at the moment! Tossed up, full and around off, turning away. Nehal Wadhera is beaten on the outside edge, and the ball evades the keeper to his left and races to the deep third fence for a boundary.
SIX! Nehal Wadhera continues to take on Suyash Sharma! Three boundaries on the trot, in the last three balls, off his bowling now. A bit too full and outside off, Nehal Wadhera tonks it over long off for a biggie.
Runs Scored 2 Runs
Score after 10 overs : 65/4
S Singh1 (4)
N Wadhera11 (9)
J Hazlewood3-0-14-3
A stifled appeal for caught behind but is turned down. Short and just outside off, Shashank Singh looks to play at it with a straight bat but misses and gets beaten on the outside edge.
Fires it full, on leg, this one skids through as well. Nehal Wadhera swivels to whip it off his pads but misses. The ball goes towards square leg off the pads and the batters sneak a leg bye.
Nehal Wadhera gives the bowler a charge, and Josh has an earful to say to him. Short and over off, Nehal steps out and swings hard but fails to connect.
Josh goes hard into the surface this time, over off, Shashank Singh cuts it through covers for a single.
Hard length, over off, Singh dabs it to short third. Two dots to start the over from Josh Hazlewood!
Hazlewood serves it full, on middle and off, Shashank Singh covers the line and tucks it to mid on.
Runs Scored 10 Runs
Score after 9 overs : 63/4
N Wadhera11 (7)
S Singh0 (0)
S Sharma2-0-14-0
SIX! That is more like it. That will release the pressure. Full on off, Wadhera goes for the slog sweep and nails it, as he puts this one over mid-wicket for a big six.
FOUR! That should ease a lot of nerves for Nehal Wadhera and the Punjab dugout. Tossed up, on middle, Nehal reverse sweeps and gets it right this time. Hits it over backward point for a boundary.
Full wide outside off, googly, Nehal Wadhera goes for the reverse-sweep over short third man but can't get any connection as he loses his balance and falls on the ground. Jitesh Sharma takes off the bails, but Nehal had his back leg grounded inside the crease at that time.
Another googly that goes past the batter. This is some bowling! The pressure is building on Punjab Kings! Full and around off, going away from Nehal as he looks to push at it.
Full, outside off, googly, Nehal Wadhera is lured into the drive as he looks to drive through the line and is beaten on the outside edge.
An appeal for LBW but is turned down. Probably was pitching outside leg. Royal Challengers Bengaluru do not challenge it. Suyash Sharma bowls the wrong'un around leg and gets it to turn away. Nehal Wadhera fails to read the ball off the hand and misses on the flick, and gets hit on the pad.
Shashank Singh comes out to bat.
Runs Scored 3 Runs
Score after 8 overs : 53/4
J Inglis14 (17)
N Wadhera1 (1)
J Hazlewood2-0-13-3
OUT! CAUGHT! Wicket number two of the over and RCB are right back in the contest! Back of length outside off, Josh Inglis goes for the cut and gets a bit of a thick outside edge that flies down straight to deep third man, where Suyash Sharma makes no mistake as he crouches and takes it around his knees. PBKS are now 53/4, needing 43 runs in 36 balls.
Off the mark straightaway. Josh Hazlewood keeps it nice and full, on off, Nehal Wadhera just nudges it to cover and takes a run.
Nehal Wadhera is in next.
OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! The change of bowling works for Royal Challengers Bengaluru! Back-of-a-length delivery, around off, that rises on Shreyas Iyer, who looks to cut it and gets a thick outside edge that flies to the keeper, Jitesh Sharma, who times his jump to perfection and takes it with both hands. Good catch by Jitesh.
Keeps it tight, on a length, on middle and off, Iyer pushes it back to the bowler.
Length ball on off, Josh Inglis steers this one to the deep third man fielder for one.
Hazlewood comes back into the attack and lands it outside off, on a fuller length, Shreyas Iyer steers it to deep third for a single.
Runs Scored 4 Runs
Score after 7 overs : 50/2
S Iyer6 (7)
J Inglis13 (15)
S Sharma1-0-4-0
Full on middle, Shreyas Iyer takes a step across and flicks this behind square, along the ground to deep fine leg for a single to retain the strike.
Pushed through, short and on middle, Josh Inglis knocks it off the back foot to long on for a single.
Full, googly, turning into the right hander, in the channel outside off, Josh Inglis goes for the cover drive with not much feet movement, and the ball beats his inside edge.
Floated up, fuller in length, Iyer clips it uppishly but away from the fielder at mid-wicket. They cross.
Another googly, short and on middle, Iyer plays it with the turn to mid-wicket.
Starts with a googly, short and on off, Inglis cuts it towards point where Rajat Patidar dives to his right and stops it but it is not enough to prevent the single.
Double change? Yes, Suyash Sharma comes into the attack.
Runs Scored 10 Runs
Score after 6 overs : 46/2
J Inglis11 (12)
S Iyer4 (4)
K Pandya1-0-10-0
Darted in at the stumps from around the wicket, Inglis flicks it off the back foot to deep mid-wicket for a single.
Slows it down, on the shorter side, on off, Josh pats it to point.
Beaten! Fired in, on off, on a nagging length, Josh looks to dab it down on the off side but gets beaten on the outside edge.
FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries for Inglis! Fractionally short, on off, Inglis rocks on the back foot quickly and slaps it to the left of cover for yet another boundary.
FOUR! Short and punished! Krunal Pandya digs it into the surface, short and on middle and leg, Josh Inglis is tucked for room but does well to rock back a bit and pulls it in front of square on the leg side for a boundary.
Pushed through, on the pads, Iyer whips it to mid-wicket and takes the single.
Krunal Pandya is introduced into the attack now.
Runs Scored 3 Runs
Score after 5 overs : 36/2
J Inglis2 (7)
S Iyer3 (3)
Y Dayal2-0-12-0
Three dots in a row to end the over! Inglis will feel that he missed out there. Short and wide on off, Josh cuts it well but straight to backward point.
On off, on a good length, Inglis stabs it down on the off side.
Play and a miss! Angling across from over the wicket, on a short of a length, Inglis throws his hands at the delivery but misses.
On leg, on a nagging length, Iyer nudges it through square leg and crosses over.
On top of off, Josh uses the angle and steers it to deep third for a single.
Goes into the wicket, over off, Inglis rides the bounce and glides it to backward point.
Wide! Down leg, on a back of a length, Inglis swings to get this one away on the leg side but misses.
Runs Scored 10 Runs
Score after 4 overs : 33/2
J Inglis1 (2)
S Iyer2 (2)
J Hazlewood1-0-10-1
On a length, around off, Inglis guides it down to deep backward point for a single to get off the mark. Punjab Kings end the Powerplay at 33/2.
On off, on a good length, steered to short third by Josh.
Josh Inglis walks in at number 4 for Punjab Kings.
OUT! CAUGHT! Priyansh Arya did not quite look his own self tonight and perishes now for 16 (11). On a hard length, on off, Priyansh Arya shapes up to go back over the bowler's head but the ball is not that full for the shot. It goes only as far as mid off where Tim David takes a simple catch. PBKS are now 32/2, needing 64 more runs in 62 balls.
SIX! First one of the run chase! Josh bends his back and digs it in short, over middle, Priyansh Arya swivels for the pull but the ball gets big on him. Gets a top edge and the ball sails over the deep fine leg fence for a six.
On off, on a good length, Arya plays it on the rise past backward point. Manoj Bhandage in the deep, sprints to his left and cuts it off. Two runs taken.
Bashes the hard length, on off, Iyer waits back to defend. Gets an inside edge onto the pads and takes a quick single as the ball rolls in front of point.
Josh Hazlewood comes into the attack as the first bowling change.
Runs Scored 11 Runs
Score after 3 overs : 23/1
P Arya8 (8)
S Iyer1 (1)
B Kumar2-0-14-1
At the stumps, on a nagging length, Arya pats it to cover from the crease.
On a back of a length, around off, Iyer runs it down to deep backward point for a single to get off the mark.
Skipper, Shreyas Iyer walks in at number 3 for Punjab Kings.
OUT! IN THE AIR AND TAKEN! Bhuvneshwar Kumar has the last laugh! Kumar pulls the length back, around off, Prabhsimran Singh swivels to go across the line. Skies it straight up towards mid off where Tim David runs to his right to settle under it. He has Rajat Patidar in his peripheral vision, running in from mid on, but David does well to keep his eyes on the ball and complete the catch.
FOUR! Two in two for Prabhsimran Singh! Outside off, on a length, Singh stays leg side of the ball and carves it over cover for four more.
FOUR! Smashed! On a length, at pace, on off, Prabhsimran Singh swings with a cross bat and lofts it over the bowler's head for a boundary.
In the air....but it falls safely! Slower one, on off, on a length, Prabhsimran Singh is early into the shot as he swings across the line. Gets a top edge that goes straight up towards the deep backward square leg region. Yash Dayal runs to his left at deep fine leg but it lands ahead of him. Two runs taken.
Runs Scored 9 Runs
Score after 2 overs : 12/0
P Arya8 (7)
P Singh3 (5)
Y Dayal1-0-9-0
FOUR! Fortuitous boundary for Priyansh Arya! In the corridor on off, on a length, Arya has a waft at delivery and gets an outside edge. It flies over a leaping Virat Kohli at first slip for a boundary.
Angling across, on a back of a length, Singh steers it wide of backward point for one more.
Shaping away, on off, on a length, Priyansh Arya slices it over backward point for a single.
Wide! Sprayed down leg, on a length.
Oh, that could have gone anywhere! On middle, on a good length, Prabhsimran Singh looks to push it down the deck but the ball stops on him. Chips it back over the bowler's head for a single.
On middle and leg, on a length, flicked to deep backward square leg for a single by Priyansh Arya.
Tailing back into the left-hander, on off, on a length, Priyansh Arya goes hard on the drive without any foot movement. Miscues it off the inner half to mid-wicket.
Yash Dayal will share the attack from the other end.
Runs Scored 3 Runs
Score after 1 overs : 3/0
P Singh1 (3)
P Arya2 (3)
B Kumar1-0-3-0
Big swing and a miss! A tidy first over from Bhuvneshwar Kumar. This is on a short of a good length, around off, Prabhsimran Singh charges down the track and swings to down the ground but misses.
Moving away in the air, in the channel, Prabhsimran Singh walks across his stumps for the scoop but misses and wears it on the thigh.
Fuller in length, on middle, smeared away to deep backward square leg for a run by Arya.
On a good length, on middle, Singh turns it wide of mid-wicket for a single to get off the mark.
Tight single! Shaping back in, on a short of a length, Priyansh Arya pats it to the left of cover and sets off for a single. Krunal Pandya moves to his left quickly but fails to gather it cleanly, allowing Arya to complete the run.
On a back of a length, at the hips, Arya nudges it to mid-wicket from the crease.
Commentary
We are back with Punjab Kings' reply! The umpires are out in the middle, and so are the players. Prabhsimran Singh comes in as an impact substitute, replacing Yuzvendra Chahal and will open with Priyansh Arya. Bhuvneshwar Kumar has the new ball in hand and will start the proceedings. Away we go!
... THE RUN CHASE ...
96 is the target then for Punjab Kings. Given how the pitch is playing, it shouldn’t be a daunting chase, but RCB might just carry a hint of momentum from that late surge by Tim David. They’ll need something truly special with the ball - early wickets, sharp fielding, and relentless pressure, if they’re to make a game out of this. It’s a small total, but stranger things have happened in this format. Back in a bit to see how it all pans out!
For Punjab Kings, it was a near-perfect outing with the ball and in the field. The pacers set the tone early, and every bowling change from Shreyas Iyer worked like a charm. It was a clinical display of execution and intent. Barring Xavier Bartlett, who picked up one wicket, every other bowler chipped in with two each, rounding off a thoroughly dominant performance that never let RCB breathe until the final few overs.
Nine single-digit scores and only two batters crossing eight runs tell the tale of a dismal batting effort. With no Devdutt Padikkal in the XI, Rajat Patidar stepped in at number 3 and managed to get a few away, but Punjab’s bowlers were relentless, striking at both ends and never letting up. Amid the collapse, it was Tim David who held his nerve. From 42/7, he launched a counterattack while wickets kept falling at the other end, and took Harpreet Brar apart in the final over to bring up a gritty half-century and drag RCB to 95/9, a total that at least gives their bowlers something to fight with.
A 14-over contest isn’t exactly too short, but RCB looked like they were stuck in one gear throughout, losing wickets in clusters and showing little intent to adapt. Their ultra-aggressive approach backfired, with every batter swinging from ball one without assessing conditions or reading the bowlers, something that becomes even more crucial in a rain-trimmed game.
Punjab Kings have landed a thunderous blow, restricting the home side to a mere 95 runs. It was Tim David who saved RCB from a complete collapse, injecting some late life into an otherwise lifeless innings. After all the rain, the long wait, and a shortened contest, RCB simply couldn’t find their rhythm. What was expected to be a fireworks show turned into a fizzle - bar that brief blitz from David, which at least gives them something to defend. Punjab, though, will be absolutely thrilled with their effort.
Runs Scored 21 Runs
Score after 14 overs : 95/9
T David50 (26)
J Hazlewood0 (1)
H Brar2-0-25-2
FIFTY FOR TIM DAVID! The first half century of David's IPL career, and it could not have come at a better time for RCB. Speared in, very full, on middle, David clears his front leg and swipes it to the right of deep mid-wicket and comes charging back for the second run. 21 runs off the final over and RCB finish with 95 on the board!
SIX! Hat-trick of sixes from Tim David to close out the innings! Oh, hang on, the siren goes off for overstepping. Harpreet Brar goes for the wide yorker on off, Tim stays leg side of the ball and gets under the ball. Carves it over cover for yet another six. NO BALL called. Free Hit coming up.
SIX! TWO IN TWO! A freebie and Tim David climbs all over it! A half-tracker, slower in the air, on leg, David goes on the back foot and deposits it over square leg for six more.
SIX! Absolutely belted! Brar ends up offering width on off, on a nagging length, Tim frees his arms and parks it behind long off for a six.
On a nagging length, on middle, Tim David swats it on the bounce to deep mid-wicket. Three dots in a row!
Slows it down and this is a bit full, on middle. It is there in the slot but David loses his shape as he swings. Miscues it to deep square leg. No single taken.
Slanting in with the arm from around the wicket, on middle and leg, David ekes out an inside edge that rolls down to deep backward square leg.
Runs Scored 11 Runs
Score after 13 overs : 74/9
T David30 (19)
J Hazlewood0 (1)
X Bartlett3-0-26-1
Xavier keeps it full, around off, David takes it on the full and eases it with a straight bat to long off to keep the strike with a single.
Square leg comes up and backward point goes back on the fence. Xavier Bartlett goes for the wide yorker but does not quite get it full enough, Tim drills it to deep cover but does not take the single.
FOUR! Hammered away! Xavier Bartlett goes short and takes pace off, outside off. It sits up to be hit and David nails the pull all along the ground to the right of deep mid-wicket for a boundary.
An off-cutter into the surface, outside off, Tim waits for it on the back foot and cuts it to the left of deep point for a couple of runs.
FOUR! Agricultural but effective! A cross-seam delivery, on off, on a length, Tim David swings across the line with all his might and hits it to the right of deep mid-wicket for a boundary.
Xavier Bartlett lands it full, on off, Tim David drives it down to long off but decides not to take the single.
Xavier Bartlett (2-0-15-1) comes back into the attack now.
Runs Scored 4 Runs
Score after 12 overs : 63/9
J Hazlewood0 (1)
T David19 (13)
H Brar1-0-4-2
Safely negotiated by Josh Hazlewood! From over the wicket to the left-hander, bowled from wide of the crease, turning in, on middle, Josh Hazlewood watchully defends.
Josh Hazlewood is the last batter in for Royal Challengers Bengaluru and will face the Hat-Trick ball from Harpreet Brar!
OUT! PLUMB IN FRONT! Harpreet Brar has two in two and RCB slip further into trouble. This slides on with the arm from around the wicket, at the stumps, on a length, Yash just hangs his bat out there to defend but the ball skids through and comes in with the arm to sneak past the inside edge. The ball brushes the front pad before hitting him on the back leg. The finger is raised. Dayal looks at David but decides to keep walking.
Yash Dayal is the next batter in for Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
OUT! TAKEN! One shot too many for Bhuvneshwar Kumar! Harpreet Brar slows it down and gets the ball to spin away a bit from the right-hander, around off, on a nagging length, Bhuvneshwar Kumar goes for a cross-batted lofted stroke down the ground. Hits it straight down the throat of long off. Xavier Bartlett runs in a bit initially but does well in the end, taking a couple of steps back and getting both his hands over the head to complete the catch. RCB are now 63/8.
FOUR! Slammed away! Fired in, on off, on a nagging length, Bhuvneshwar Kumar gets the width he needs and slaps it to the left of cover for a boundary.
Darted in a bit fuller this time, Kumar goes on the back foot and tucks it to a straightish short mid-wicket.
Spears it in, short and on off, Bhuvneshwar Kumar plays it back to Brar.
Harpreet Brar comes into the attack now.
Runs Scored 12 Runs
Score after 11 overs : 59/7
B Kumar4 (9)
T David19 (13)
A Singh3-0-23-2
At the hips, Bhuvneshwar Kumar gets inside the line and glances it down to deep fine leg for one. The most productive over of the night so far for RCB. 12 runs off it.
Drags the length back, on off, David pats it to long off and takes the single. 11 runs off the over with a ball to go.
Pace taken off, on the fuller side, David firms the drive to the right of deep cover where Shashank Singh cuts it off with a slide. Two runs taken.
FOUR! Smart batting! Arshdeep errs in line as he offers width on off, on a back of a length, Tim stays leg side of the ball and carves it aerially but between backward point and short third for a boundary.
Just short! Angling across, on a good length, David does not move his feet at all and just goes at it with his hands. Chips it on the bounce to the man at mid off.
FOUR! 50 UP FOR RCB! Arshdeep Singh bangs it into the deck but the line is a bit too straight, around leg, David swivels on the back foot and pulls it to the right of deep square leg for a boundary.
Arshdeep Singh (2-0-11-2) comes back into the attack.
Runs Scored 4 Runs
Score after 10 overs : 47/7
T David8 (8)
B Kumar3 (8)
Y Chahal3-0-11-2
Shorter and quicker, on off, David punches it away to deep cover for a single.
Pushed through, short and on middle, Kumar punches it down to long on for a single.
Even slower this time, on off, Bhuvneshwar Kumar leans ahead and watchfully defends.
Loopy delivery, full and on middle, Kumar lunges to defend.
Flatter and shorter, on off, Tim uses the depth of the crease and dabs past backward point for a single.
Floated up, on middle, knocked down to long on for a single.
Runs Scored 1 Runs
Score after 9 overs : 43/7
B Kumar1 (4)
T David6 (6)
M Jansen3-0-10-2
Back of length outside off, Bhuvneshwar Kumar punches this one into the off side towards deep extra cover and takes one.
Angling into the right-hander, on a back of a length, Kumar stabs it down on the off side.
Fuller in length, angling into the right-hander from round the wicket, the ball hits Bhuvneshwar Kumar's pads as he looks to flick this one. Dot ball.
On off, on a hard length, Bhuvneshwar Kumar pats it off the back foot to cover.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar walks in at number 9 for Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
OUT! LBW An appeal and given! Length ball that seams in and hits Manoj Bhandage's front pad as he looks to flick this one. Manoj Bhandage and Tim David at the non-striker's end have a chat, and they go for the review. Third umpire called in. No bat involved on UltraEdge. The Ball Tracking shows that the impact is in line and wickets is umpire's call with the ball clipping the leg stump. The on-field call stays, and the debutant Manoj Bhandage has to go.
Pitched up, on off, Manoj Bhandage plays it with a straight bat back to Jansen.
Runs Scored 3 Runs
Score after 8 overs : 42/6
M Bhandage1 (2)
T David6 (6)
Y Chahal2-0-7-2
Just over! Tossed up, on off, Manoj Bhandage looks to flick this one and gets a leading edge which goes just over Chahal, who jumps up and puts out his right hand, but the ball goes just over his hand. The ball rolls down to long off. Single taken.
Turning into the left-hander from around the wicket, Manoj Bhandage hangs back to keep it out.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru bring Manoj Bhandage as their Impact Player. Manoj walks in at number 8. Liam Livingstone has been subbed out.
OUT! TAKEN! Wicket number 6 down for RCB! Nicely tossed up delivery around off, enticing the batter to go for the big one. Rajat Patidar accepts the offer and goes for the lofted hit over long off. He doesn't get it off the middle of the bat as he is deceived in the flight. The ball goes high in the air and Xavier Bartlett from long off runs in front and takes an easy catch.
Looped up, on off, David reaches out in front and thumps it down to long off for a single.
Quicker and shorter on leg stump, Tim David cautiously pushes it off the back foot to catching mid on. Dot ball.
Short and turning away, on off, Rajat waits back and whips it to deep mid-wicket for a single.
Runs Scored 6 Runs
Score after 7 overs : 39/5
T David5 (4)
R Patidar22 (16)
M Jansen2-0-9-1
Well-directed bouncer to finish the over and Tim David has no answers as he just gets out of the way. Tim David and Rajat Patidar have a chat and they think it's a wide and decide to go for the review. Banged in short by Marco, Tim just sways away from the line. The ball is going over David's shoulder, but it is passing below his head. It's the first bouncer of the over. So wide won't be given and the on-field call stays.
Wide not given, and after a chat, Tim David has decided to send it upstairs. He reckons that the ball went over his head and it should be a wide for height. The tracker is in, and it shows that the ball is below the head. Fair delivery!
Short and angling across, this one skids through and Tim David looks to cut. Gets an underedge that goes to the right of the keeper.
Back of a length on middle, Patidar hops on the back foot as he works this one behind square towards fine leg for a single.
Good length, on off, Tim David taps it to the right of mid off for a single.
FOUR! CLUBBED! Tim David is up and running! Short on middle, Tim David pulls this one in front of square along the ground, as the ball goes racing away to the deep mid-wicket boundary.
Tim David is in at number 7.
OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! An excellent review from Punjab Kings! Marco Jansen digs it short and over middle, right at the batter's head. Krunal Pandya is hurried into the shot and also cramped for room. Looks to pull, but does so very awkwardly. The ball seems to take a faint outside edge and lobs to the off side off his helmet, and Jansen takes a simple catch. There are two noises and the players go up in unison, but the umpire deems it not out. Punjab opt for the review straight up. The UltraEdge shows a spike as the ball passes the bat, and the on-field call of NOT OUT is overturned to OUT.
Runs Scored 4 Runs
Score after 6 overs : 33/4
K Pandya1 (1)
R Patidar21 (15)
Y Chahal1-0-4-1
Tossed up, fuller, on off, Krunal flicks it off the front foot to deep mid-wicket for a single.
Krunal Pandya walks in.
OUT! CAUGHT! Yuzvendra Chahal makes an immediate impact, and RCB slip further down. Bowls it a bit slower and keeps it on middle and leg, Jitesh Sharma plants his front leg across and looks to slog sweep but gets it high on the bat. The ball goes in front of deep backward square leg, and Nehal Wadhera from the ropes, charges in quickly to take a good running catch low in front. Punjab Kings have been phenomenal in the field, and that has only added to the woes of RCB so far.
In the air...but safe! Short in length, on middle, Patidar rocks on the back foot and plays the pull. He doesn't get it off the middle of the bat, as the ball hits the upper half and goes high in the air. It falls short of the deep mid-wicket fielder. Single taken.
Looped full, on off, Jitesh Sharma pushes it wide of cover for a single.
A touch fuller on off, Jitesh defends it off the front foot to short cover. Dot ball.
Yuzvendra Chahal comes into the attack now and tosses it up, on off, Rajat Patidar makes his intention clear and whips it hard to deep mid-wicket for a single.
Runs Scored 3 Runs
Score after 5 overs : 29/3
J Sharma1 (4)
R Patidar19 (13)
M Jansen1-0-3-0
Very short and outside off, Jitesh Sharma looks to ramp but plays all over it and misses. Solid over to start for Marco Jansen. Just the 3 runs off it.
Beautiful piece of bowling! Short of a good length, angling across with a bit of extra bounce, over middle and off. Jitesh Sharma hops back to miss it on the outside edge.
A bit too full, on off, Rajat Patidar firms his drive to cover for a single.
Angling across, on a length, around off, Sharma glides it to deep third and picks up a single to get off the mark.
Back of a length, over off, Jitesh Sharma blocks it down.
Starts from over the wicket and bowls it on a length, around off, Rajat Patidar steers it to deep third for a single.
Jitesh Sharma comes out to bat. Marco Jansen comes into the attack as the first change.
Runs Scored 5 Runs
Score after 4 overs : 26/3
L Livingstone4 (6)
R Patidar17 (11)
X Bartlett2-0-15-1
OUT! CAUGHT! This is turning out to be a horrendous start for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. They lose three wickets in the Powerplay and end it at 26/3. Xavier Bartlett bowls it a bit fuller than a length, on off, Liam Livingstone, knowing it is the last ball with the field restrictions, gives the bowler a charge down the track and looks to power it back over the bowler's head. Fails to get to the pitch of the ball and slices it off the outer half of the bat over covers. Priyansh Arya calls for it, backtracks and takes a good catch.
Back of a length, over off, Liam Livingstone dabs it to point.
FOUR! That's three batters opening their accounts with a boundary. Liam Livingstone will draw plenty of confidence with that shot. On a length, outside off, Livingstone waits back and cuts it through point for a boundary.
Fuller in length, on off, Liam Livingstone drives it straight but Bartlett does well to make a stop on his follow-through.
Full and on middle, Rajat Patidar clips it to deep square leg for a single.
Hard length, on off, Rajat Patidar punches it off the upper half of the bat to mid off.
Runs Scored 2 Runs
Score after 3 overs : 21/2
L Livingstone0 (2)
R Patidar16 (9)
A Singh2-0-11-2
On a length, on off, Livingstone is a bit early into the drive and pushes it to mid off.
Fires in a yorker, just outside off, Liam Livingstone looks to squeeze it through the off side but misses.
Liam Livingstone is in next.
OUT! CAUGHT! Arshdeep Singh continues to make a big impact up front, and all of a sudden, Chinnaswamy is dead quiet. Short-ball ploy doing the trick for Singh once again as Royal Challengers Bengaluru lose both their openers for 21 runs. Short and on off, Virat Kohli settles himself on the back foot for the pull but miscues it over mid on. Marco Jansen backtracks a long way, keeps his eyes locked on the ball and takes a stunning catch while falling over behind.
Good running! On a length, on off, Rajat Patidar steers it to short third and the batters sneak a quick run.
Arshdeep Singh goes short and over off, Virat Kohli miscues his pull through mid-wicket and takes a single to get off the mark.
On a good length, on middle, shaping in a bit, Virat Kohli pushes it down the pitch.
Runs Scored 10 Runs
Score after 2 overs : 19/1
R Patidar15 (8)
V Kohli0 (0)
X Bartlett1-0-10-0
Another well-timed shot, but it just plugs in the outfield. Full again from Xavier Bartlett on middle, Rajat Patidar gets his bottom hand into play and flicks it over mid on. Not very well timed, but gets enough on it. The ball sails over Marco Jansen there and just gets absorbed into the turf. The batters take two.
SIX! Sweetly timed! First of many to come tonight! Fuller and on middle and leg, Rajat Patidar stays rooted to the crease and flicks it over mid-wicket for a biggie.
Something had to give. Xavier Bartlett goes a yard fuller and at the stumps, Rajat Patidar follows it with a big swing across. Gets a thickish outside edge over covers for a couple of runs.
Goes into the surface and over middle, Rajat Patidar turns it to mid-wicket. Three dots to start for Xavier Bartlett!
Top nut! Good length, on off and shaping away a fair bit. Rajat Patidar looks to push at it but gets beaten on the outside edge.
Starts from over the wicket and bowls it on a good length, into the hips, Rajat Patidar drops it down on the leg side and looks to sneak a run but is sent back by Virat Kohli and rightfully so.
Who will bowl from the other end? It will be Xavier Bartlett.
Runs Scored 9 Runs
Score after 1 overs : 9/1
R Patidar5 (2)
V Kohli0 (0)
A Singh1-0-9-1
On a length, around off and middle, Rajat Patidar tucks it to mid-wicket and picks up a single. 9 runs and a wicket off Arshdeep Singh's first over.
FOUR! Second batter to face the bowler, and he manages to get off the blocks with a boundary too. Arshdeep Singh goes a bit too full and on the pads, Rajat Patidar flicks it neatly through mid-wicket for four runs.
The captain of RCB, Rajat Patidar, is in at number 3.
OUT! CAUGHT! Arshdeep Singh gets the first big wicket and Phil Salt departs for just 4 runs off 4 balls. Arshdeep Singh bangs it into the surface, on a back of a length and angles it across the batter. The ball sticks to the surface a bit and Phil Salt is early on his pull. Gets a top edge that goes very high and in front of square leg. Josh Inglis, the keeper, calls for the catch and sprints across to his left and takes a fine catch. Royal Challengers Bengaluru are 4/1.
Lovely ball this from Singh. A yorker that tails back into the batter, Phil Salt shovels it to mid off.
Arshdeep Singh immediately pulls the length back, and keeps it over middle, Phil Salt dabs it down the deck.
FOUR! Just the kind of start that was on the cards! No need to assess the conditions for Phil Salt! Arshdeep Singh goes full and at the stumps, Salt shows the full face of the bat and drives it dead straight past the batter for a cracking boundary.
Thankfully, the drizzle didn’t hang around for long, and we didn’t have any further delays. The covers are off, the outfield is looking good, and we are finally set to get going. The decibel levels rise as the two RCB openers, Phil Salt and Virat Kohli, sprint out onto the centre. Arshdeep Singh will open the attack for the Kings. Salt will face the first ball. A slip in place. Here we go!
UPDATE - 9.41 pm IST (4.11 pm GMT) - Oh, dear! The rain has returned, and so have the covers. The ground staff are back at work, and we are once again waiting for the weather to clear up. Let’s hope it’s just a brief shower, and we can get this game underway soon. Stay tuned for further updates!
Impact players nominated by the Punjab Kings - Prabhsimran Singh, Vyshak Vijaykumar, Glenn Maxwell, Suryansh Shedge and Praveen Dubey.
Punjab Kings (Playing XI) - Priyansh Arya, Shreyas Iyer (C), Shashank Singh, Nehal Wadhera, Josh Inglis (WK), Marcus Stoinis (In for Glenn Maxwell), Marco Jansen, Harpreet Brar (In for Prabhsimran Singh), Yuzvendra Chahal, Xavier Bartlett, Arshdeep Singh.
Impact players nominated by Royal Challengers Bengaluru - Devdutt Padikkal, Rasikh Salam, Manoj Bhandage, Jacob Bethell and Swapnil Singh.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Playing XI) - Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Suyash Sharma, Rajat Patidar (C), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal.
The captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Rajat Patidar, says that they as a team need to be smart in adapting to the conditions, and he expects the wicket to be sticky. Reckons that the overhead conditions won't have much of an effect and that they will try to put a good total on the board. Informs that they are going with the same team as the last game.
Shreyas Iyer, the skipper of Punjab Kings, says since it's a rain-interrupted game and with a reduction of overs, bowling first is the right choice, and it was the plan in place. Mentions that Marcus Stoinis and Harpreet Brar come into the team. Stresses that on this ground, the right fielders will have to be in the right place, cutting angles and hopes for them to execute all the plans set for this game.
TOSS - Punjab Kings win the flip of the coin and they will BOWL first.
UPDATE - 9.24 pm IST (3.54 pm GMT) - The news we have all been waiting for is finally here! The toss is set to take place at 9.30 pm IST (4 pm GMT) with the first ball to be bowled at 9.45 pm IST (4.15 pm GMT). It will be a 14-over-per-side contest. The Powerplay will be of 4 overs and 4 bowlers will be allowed to bowl a maximum of 3 overs each. Strap in, we are in for a cracking game with plenty of fireworks!
UPDATE - 9.08 pm IST (3.38 pm GMT) - The entire square has been uncovered, and the hessian on the pitch has also been removed. Over to the Super Soppers now, but given the efficiency of this venue’s drainage system, it shouldn't take long for the ground staff to get the field ready for play. The pitch is being rolled, and Virat Kohli is the first to make his way out for the warm-ups. Promising signs all around!
UPDATE - 8.58 pm IST (3.28 pm GMT) - Positive news! The rain has stopped, and the fourth umpire is already out there, having a chat with the ground staff. The crowd has found their voices, and you guessed it right – the ground staff is starting to peel off the covers. The Super Soppers are in action too, and these are all promising signs that we might be seeing play soon. Stay tuned!
UPDATE - 8.50 pm IST (3.20 pm GMT) - We have now started to lose overs. The rain intensity isn't heavy, but it's enough to keep the covers on and the players waiting. As mentioned earlier, the drainage at this venue is among the best in the country, which should lead to a quick turnaround once the rain stops. The latest the game can start for a 5-over contest is 10.56 pm IST (5.26 pm GMT).
UPDATE - 8.30 pm IST (3 pm GMT) - We have hit the one-hour mark since the scheduled start, and as is the case in T20 matches, there's typically a 60-minute buffer before overs start getting deducted. That should hold true tonight as well, though we are still waiting on official confirmation. Fingers crossed the rain eases off soon so we can get some play in!
UPDATE - 8.05 pm IST (2.35 pm GMT) - Unfortunately, we come bearing bad news, not the kind we were hoping for. The rain has picked up in intensity and the covers are firmly in place. The wait gets longer, folks. Stay with us as we continue to hope for a break in the weather.
While we wait for the drizzle to ease up, let’s take a look at two key players to watch out for in this clash - two former RCB stars who’ll be raring to make a statement, not just for the team, but to prove a point of their own. First up, Yuzvendra Chahal, a seasoned campaigner who knows this venue like the back of his hand. While most bowlers have found it tough going here, Chahal has thrived, making this ground a personal hunting ground. Then there’s Glenn Maxwell, who’s had a couple of really strong seasons at this very venue. With his explosive batting and game-changing flair, this could be the perfect stage for him to rediscover his rhythm and get back to form. Both players bring that plethora of experience at the Chinnaswamy, making them ones to watch if and when we get back underway.
UPDATE - 7.27 pm IST (1.57 pm GMT) - Uh oh, just when it looked like we were in the clear, the drizzle has made an unwelcome return, dampening the mood once again. But it’s not all gloomy, the forecast still leans in our favour, and if the radar holds true, this passing spell shouldn't last long. Fingers crossed, we’re still on track to get the game rolling soon.
UPDATE - 7.14 pm IST (1.44 pm GMT) - Good news! The rain has finally come to a standstill, and the fourth umpire is out to assess the situation. The ground staff have just started making their way out, though we can see puddles have formed on the covers. It will take some time to get the ground ready, but we are hopeful for a start soon! Stick around.
UPDATE - 6.59 pm IST (1.29 pm GMT) - The flip of the coin has been DELAYED as the drizzle just refuses to let up! The good news? This venue boasts one of the best drainage systems in the country, so once the rain does ease up, the ground staff should be able to get things ready fairly quickly. But for now, a prompt start looks a bit far-fetched. Stay tuned!
Tonight is not just another night, but a special occasion. It was on this very day back in 2008 that the journey of the Indian Premier League began, and it all started at this very venue. Unfortunately, rain threatens to play spoilsport, with persistent drizzle lingering over the past hour or so. Visuals from the ground show players from both sides waiting in their respective dressing rooms as the rain continues to fall steadily. Stick around as we hope for the weather to clear up soon.
On the other hand, PBKS produced a performance for the ages in their last game, as they successfully defended the lowest score of the IPL against KKR. With that win, the Kings will be very high on confidence, and they are certainly looking stronger than ever. Yuzvendra Chahal’s comeback to form is a big relief, and they would be hoping for the IPL’s highest wicket-taker to continue his good work in the game against RCB. However, their batting collapsed like anything in the last game, and they would be trying to rub it off as a one-off performance and would be looking to start afresh in this game.
RCB are coming off a dominant victory over RR as they chased down a target of 174 in the 18th over. Phil Salt getting back amongst runs is a big plus for them, whereas Virat Kohli has batted with a very positive intent and has delivered consistently. However, one issue they would be looking to address in this game is their middle and lower order’s form, which has been a bit shaky at times, as they have lost wickets in bulk. In their bowling, their pace attack of Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Yash Dayal has done a very good job upfront, as they have taken consistent wickets in the Powerplay. However, their issue has been in the middle overs, where the spinners have failed to take consistent wickets.
Hello and welcome to match number 34, where the Royal Challengers Bengaluru are taking on the Punjab Kings at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. It’s the 3rd placed team on the points table taking on the team sitting in the 4th spot, and this promises to be a blockbuster Friday night. Both teams have 4 wins from 6 games, and both come into this contest on the back of a win
... MATCH DAY ...
The start of the match is delayed due to rain! Preview - As the midpoint approaches, things are really heating up now in this 2025 edition of the Indian Premier League. It has served entertainment aplenty with bone-chilling moments in the last week. We have seen a mammoth total of 246 being chased down, while also witnessed a below run-a-ball total of 111 being defended. Breaking all the mathematical barriers, Match number 34 is expected to be another thriller as the high-flying Royal Challengers Bengaluru welcome a rejuvenated Punjab Kings outfit to their fortress at Chinnaswamy. It promises another thriller in a season that's already shattered expectations and statistical logic. RCB, perched impressively at third on the table, enter with their recent form reading like binary code - loss, win, loss, win in their last four outings. Fresh from dismantling Rajasthan Royals, they'll be desperate to break this alternating pattern and cement their top-four credentials as the table compresses with every passing game. RCB’s batting arsenal has been in a fine form with Phil Salt providing the early fireworks while run-machine Virat Kohli continues his golden touch with three half-centuries already, keeping him firmly in the Orange Cap race. First-time skipper Rajat Patidar has led from the front, combining fearless leadership with explosive batting contributions, including two fifties of his own. RCB's middle order strength has masked Padikkal's struggles, with the batter desperately seeking form after being given a long rope to prove himself. The bowling department has found its rhythm with overseas star Josh Hazlewood breaking into the top wicket-takers list, well supported by the experienced Bhuvneshwar Kumar and ably backed by Yash Dayal, forming a threatening pace trio. Despite pre-season skepticism surrounding their spin options, Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma have risen to the challenge admirably, delivering clutch performances in pressure situations and proving the doubters wrong. If there's one team that embodies the wild, unpredictable spirit of T20 cricket, it's Punjab Kings. Just days after their bowlers were obliterated in a record-breaking chase, where they failed to defend a mammoth total of 245, they turned the script on its head by pulling off a miraculous defense of 111. Only possible in the IPL, right? Openers Prabhsimran Singh and the young sensation Priyansh Arya have been providing the fireworks upfront, but the middle order remains a puzzle. Captain Shreyas Iyer's form is a tale of two extremes. On the road, he’s been a run-glutton scoring 97, 52, 82, respectively, but at home, he’s managed a paltry 19 runs in three innings, including a duck. Meanwhile, Glenn Maxwell's prolonged slump is bordering on bizarre. As across the last two IPL seasons, he hasn’t even crossed 100 runs total. Though Big Show’s handy off-breaks have offered some consolation. The silver lining? Yuzvendra Chahal's resurgence. After a lukewarm start, the wily leg-spinner roared back with a match-defining 4/28, reminding everyone why he’s still among the best in the business. Pace-wise, Arshdeep Singh has been the consistent performer with him finding decent support from his other pace colleagues. Both teams are so closely contested which also reflects in their head to head stats as PBKS enjoy a minimal 17-16 lead over RCB. However, RCB can take inspiration from their recent performance as they haven’t lost against Punjab Kings since 2022, with a 3-0 record at their home ground against this opposition in their last three meets here. With everything to play for and only net run rate separating these sides on the table, cricket fans should brace themselves for another high-octane clash.

WTC 2025 final: ಮೂರನೇ ಸ್ಥಾನ ಪಡೆದ ಟೀಂ ಇಂಡಿಯಾಕ್ಕೆ ಸಿಗುವ ಬಹುಮಾನದ ಮೊತ್ತವೆಷ್ಟು?
WTC 2025 final: ಭಾರತ ತಂಡವು ಆಸ್ಟ್ರೇಲಿಯಾ ವಿರುದ್ಧದ ಬಾರ್ಡರ್-ಗವಾಸ್ಕರ್ ಟ್ರೋಫಿಯನ್ನು 3-1 ಅಂತರದಿಂದ ಸೋತಿತು. ಈ ಸೋಲಿನಿಂದಾಗಿ ಡಬ್ಲ್ಯುಟಿಸಿ ಫೈನಲ್ಗೆ ಅರ್ಹತೆ ಪಡೆಯಲು ವಿಫಲವಾಯಿತು. ವರದಿಯ ಪ್ರಕಾರ, ಮೂರನೇ ಸ್ಥಾನದಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಟೀಂ ಇಂಡಿಯಾ ರೂ. 12.33 ಕೋಟಿ ಬಹುಮಾನ ಸಿಗಲಿದೆ ಎಂದು ವರದಿಯಾಗಿದೆ.

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WTC 2025 final: 66 ರನ್ ಬಾರಿಸಿ ರಹಾನೆ ದಾಖಲೆ ಮುರಿದು ವಿಶ್ವ ದಾಖಲೆ ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಸಿದ ಸ್ಟೀವ್ ಸ್ಮಿತ್

ಐಪಿಎಲ್ ಬಳಿಕ ಮತ್ತೊಂದು ತಂಡವನ್ನು ಫೈನಲ್ಗೆ ಕೊಂಡೊಯ್ದ ಶ್ರೇಯಸ್ ಅಯ್ಯರ್

ನಮೀಬಿಯಾ ವಿರುದ್ಧ 5 ಪಂದ್ಯಗಳ ಏಕದಿನ ಸರಣಿ: ರಿಯಾನ್ ಪರಾಗ್ ನಾಯಕ; ವೇಳಾಪಟ್ಟಿ ಪ್ರಕಟ

WTC 2025 final: ಭೋಜನ ವಿರಾಮಕ್ಕೂ ಮುನ್ನ ಆಸೀಸ್ ವಿರುದ್ಧ ಮೇಲುಗೈ ಸಾಧಿಸಿದ ಆಫ್ರಿಕಾ

90 ಎಸೆತಗಳಲ್ಲಿ 190 ರನ್ ಚಚ್ಚಿದ ವೈಭವ್ ಸೂರ್ಯವಂಶಿ

WTC 2025 final: ಟಾಸ್ ಗೆದ್ದ ದಕ್ಷಿಣ ಆಫ್ರಿಕಾ; ಉಭಯ ತಂಡಗಳ ಪ್ಲೇಯಿಂಗ್-11 ಹೀಗಿದೆ

ಅಂತಾರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯ ಕ್ರಿಕೆಟ್ಗೆ ವಿದಾಯ ಹೇಳಿದ ಪೂರನ್ಗೆ ಮುಂಬೈ ತಂಡದ ನಾಯಕತ್ವ
WTC 2025 final: ಮೂರನೇ ಸ್ಥಾನ ಪಡೆದ ಟೀಂ ಇಂಡಿಯಾಕ್ಕೆ ಸಿಗುವ ಬಹುಮಾನದ ಮೊತ್ತವೆಷ್ಟು?
WTC 2025 final: ರಬಾಡ ದಾಳಿಗೆ ತತ್ತರಿಸಿದ ಆಸೀಸ್ 212 ರನ್ಗಳಿಗೆ ಆಲೌಟ್
WTC 2025 final: 66 ರನ್ ಬಾರಿಸಿ ರಹಾನೆ ದಾಖಲೆ ಮುರಿದು ವಿಶ್ವ ದಾಖಲೆ ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಸಿದ ಸ್ಟೀವ್ ಸ್ಮಿತ್
ಐಪಿಎಲ್ ಬಳಿಕ ಮತ್ತೊಂದು ತಂಡವನ್ನು ಫೈನಲ್ಗೆ ಕೊಂಡೊಯ್ದ ಶ್ರೇಯಸ್ ಅಯ್ಯರ್
ನಮೀಬಿಯಾ ವಿರುದ್ಧ 5 ಪಂದ್ಯಗಳ ಏಕದಿನ ಸರಣಿ: ರಿಯಾನ್ ಪರಾಗ್ ನಾಯಕ; ವೇಳಾಪಟ್ಟಿ ಪ್ರಕಟ










Commentary
With this win, the Punjab Kings climb to second spot in the standings, while Royal Challengers Bengaluru drop to fourth. These two teams will lock horns again in an afternoon game in Mullanpur on Sunday, 20th April, but that’s for later. On Saturday, 19th April, a double-header awaits us. The first game of the day will see the Gujarat Titans taking on the Delhi Capitals at 3.30 pm IST (10 am GMT). This will be followed by the Rajasthan Royals squaring off against the Lucknow Super Giants at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT). As always, our build-up for both games will begin a lot sooner. See you then. Cheers!
Tim David is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his quickfire fifty, albeit in a losing cause. He says batting lower in the order gives him time to assess the conditions, and the practice pitches also played similarly here, which helped. Talks about his role and feels he is batting well and contributing, and will do what the team and coaches ask of him. Adds that going hard from ball one is something that a player will have to become comfortable with and he is pleased with how he is doing it so far, and says it was trickier in this game with not many wickets left. Talks about the importance of finding a way to turn things around at home and jokes about coming hard at Punjab at their home next.
The captain of the Punjab Kings, Shreyas Iyer, says that it's always good to experience different kinds of games and conditions. Mentions that they took wickets regularly, with Marco Jansen being particularly lethal with the ball. Acknowledges the importance of steadying the ship in the middle overs and how the bowlers adapted well to the conditions, with hard length balls proving difficult for the batters to handle. He commends his bowlers for executing their plans fantastically and emphasises the need for one batter to take charge in such situations. States that he is pleased that Nehal Wadhera played that role and guided his team over the line. Hopes that Nehal continues to perform in this manner moving forward. Feels that Yuzvendra Chahal has probably been the bowler of the season so far and the chat with him has been about not being defensive and always going for the wickets.
Time for the presentation ceremony...
Marco Jansen is in for a chat. He says he is feeling very good about the win and about the conditions too, as there was a little pace and bounce in the wicket. Tells that everyone has a role in the team, and accordingly, whatever role he gets, he is happy to do that to the best of his ability. He mentions he is used to taking the new ball upfront, but the team has a lot of players who can take wickets upfront, and that’s why he is ready to be used in the overs his team needs him. States that Iyer’s captaincy is very good and that he is very clear on the field. Adds that Iyer knows what is expected from the bowlers, and accordingly, it works either way. Mentions that they have lots of talks in the nets while practising, and thus it helps. He jokingly says he didn’t dive to take the catch, but he fell over. Shares that having someone like Yuzvendra Chahal is great. Further says that it helps the seamers upfront to go aggressive, as they know that there will be a bowler like him in the middle overs who can take wickets.
Rajat Patidar, the captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, says initially the wicket was two-paced, but also agrees that they could have done better as a batting unit. Adds that building partnerships is crucial, and losing wickets at regular intervals didn't help. Says dropping Devdutt Padikkal was a tough call, but was done keeping the surface in mind. Appreciates the way Punjab Kings played and says they take a lot of learnings, and concludes that they are in a good frame of mind and will look to do better going ahead.
Earlier, Shreyas Iyer had no hesitation in opting to bowl first in a rain-curtailed 14-over contest. RCB went too hard at the start and didn’t give themselves enough time to assess the conditions. PBKS were sharp with the ball and equally alert in the field to capitalise, reducing RCB to 42/7 at one stage. However, Tim David's maiden IPL fifty brought some respectability to the total, lifting them to 95.
With only 96 runs to chase, the Punjab Kings did lose both openers early, but not before getting a couple of boundaries away. There was never any real scoreboard pressure, but to their credit, RCB didn’t let PBKS run away with it either. Josh Hazlewood led the charge and even gave them a glimmer of hope with a double strike. However, Nehal Wadhera was the calming influence Punjab needed. He batted with maturity, guiding his side over the line and ensuring they didn’t botch the chase.
Back-to-back wins for the Punjab Kings! After that blip in Hyderabad, where they couldn't defend 245, the Kings have bounced back in style with a couple of statement victories. As for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, it’s now three home defeats on the trot. Sent in to bat, they never really came to grips with the steep bounce on offer. They had more time than they thought with the bat and simply didn’t put enough runs on the board.
SIX! BANG! That's a thumping shot to seal the game by 5 wickets. Yash Dayal serves it right in the slot, on middle and off, Marcus Stoinis winds up and heaves it over deep mid-wicket for a biggie to wrap things up. Punjab Kings win by 5 wickets and 11 balls to spare.
Runs Scored 12 Runs
Score after 12 overs : 92/5
N Wadhera33 (19)
M Stoinis1 (1)
B Kumar3-0-26-2
FOUR! Top shot! Gets his side within touching distance now. Short of a length, outside off, Nehal Wadhera weighs on the back foot and slaps it through covers for a boundary to end the over. Punjab Kings need just 4 more runs off the last two overs now.
SIX! Ice in the veins for Nehal, surely! Back of a length, on the hips, he swivels back and pulls it behind square on the leg side for a six.
Hard length, angling in, over off, Marcus Stoinis punches at it and gets a thick outside edge that dribbles to deep third for a single.
Marcus Stoinis is in next.
OUT! CAUGHT! Shashank Singh holes out! Bhuvneshwar Kumar serves it on a back of a length, angling it into the batter, on middle and leg, Shashank Singh makes a bit of room and looks to go big, straight back over the bowler's head, but only gets height and not the distance. Phil Salt takes a straightforward catch at long on.
Back of a length, over middle, Nehal Wadhera steps out and swipes it to deep square leg for a single.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar comes back into the attack and angles it across, around off, on a length, Nehal Wadhera cuts it straight to backward point.
Runs Scored 15 Runs
Score after 11 overs : 80/4
N Wadhera22 (15)
S Singh1 (4)
S Sharma3-0-25-0
Full, on off, Nehal Wadhera taps it to backward point and takes a single. 15 runs come off this over and Punjab Kings now need just 16 more runs off 18 balls.
Swing and a miss! Serves the googly, outside off, Nehal gets down for the slog sweep but fails to connect.
Nicely bowled! Full and around off, skids through quicker to go past the outside edge as Nehal looks to push at it.
FOUR! Absolutely crunched! Suyash Sharma is becoming a bit too predictable, and Nehal Wadhera is making him pay. Full and outside off, turning away, Nehal Wadhera frees his arms and thumps it through covers.
FOUR BYES! It's all going Punjab's way at the moment! Tossed up, full and around off, turning away. Nehal Wadhera is beaten on the outside edge, and the ball evades the keeper to his left and races to the deep third fence for a boundary.
SIX! Nehal Wadhera continues to take on Suyash Sharma! Three boundaries on the trot, in the last three balls, off his bowling now. A bit too full and outside off, Nehal Wadhera tonks it over long off for a biggie.
Runs Scored 2 Runs
Score after 10 overs : 65/4
S Singh1 (4)
N Wadhera11 (9)
J Hazlewood3-0-14-3
A stifled appeal for caught behind but is turned down. Short and just outside off, Shashank Singh looks to play at it with a straight bat but misses and gets beaten on the outside edge.
Fires it full, on leg, this one skids through as well. Nehal Wadhera swivels to whip it off his pads but misses. The ball goes towards square leg off the pads and the batters sneak a leg bye.
Nehal Wadhera gives the bowler a charge, and Josh has an earful to say to him. Short and over off, Nehal steps out and swings hard but fails to connect.
Josh goes hard into the surface this time, over off, Shashank Singh cuts it through covers for a single.
Hard length, over off, Singh dabs it to short third. Two dots to start the over from Josh Hazlewood!
Hazlewood serves it full, on middle and off, Shashank Singh covers the line and tucks it to mid on.
Runs Scored 10 Runs
Score after 9 overs : 63/4
N Wadhera11 (7)
S Singh0 (0)
S Sharma2-0-14-0
SIX! That is more like it. That will release the pressure. Full on off, Wadhera goes for the slog sweep and nails it, as he puts this one over mid-wicket for a big six.