source : BCCI
Royal Challengers Bengaluru made it five out of five away wins in IPL 2025, comfortably chasing down 158 against Punjab Kings in Mullanpur. Virat Kohli, as composed as ever, remained unbeaten on 73 and anchored the chase with calculated precision. Devdutt Padikkal finally found his groove, notching up a timely 61 that gave RCB cruise control in their seven-wicket victory.
The win was set up by RCB’s bowlers, who applied the brakes after PBKS’s powerplay fireworks. After a blazing start that saw Punjab race to 62 in six overs, Krunal Pandya (2 for 25) and Suyash Sharma (2 for 26) choked the flow of runs. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood sealed it with a death-bowling masterclass, giving away just 28 runs in the final four overs.
Chasing a modest target, Kohli did what he does best — absorb pressure and finish clinically. He brought up his 67th fifty-plus IPL score, the most by any batter in the league’s history. He paced the chase perfectly: quick runs in the powerplay, calm consolidation in the middle, and a composed finish. It was a classic Kohli blueprint for chasing down middling totals.
For Padikkal, this knock was more than just a half-century — it was a statement. After a long drought dating back to May 2023, he finally clicked. Confident strokeplay, well-timed sixes, and that look of relief as he raised his bat said it all. His 103-run stand with Kohli laid the perfect foundation, and even after he departed, the job was already half done.
PBKS will rue the middle-overs collapse and lack of firepower at the death. Their powerplay gave them promise, but from overs 7 to 17, they lost five wickets and could never recover. With this loss, RCB climb to 10 points and third on the table, while PBKS are left to ponder how yet another promising start fizzled out.
