The first Qualifier of IPL 2025 delivered a stunning result as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) put on a dominant show to thrash Punjab Kings (PBKS) by 8 wickets. This comprehensive victory means RCB has now cruised directly into the IPL 2025 Final! The match, played on Thursday, May 29, 2025, at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, Chandigarh, was a one-sided affair, much to the delight of RCB fans and a shock to PBKS supporters. These PBKS vs RCB Highlights truly showcase a team at the peak of its powers.
From the very beginning, RCB outplayed PBKS in every part of the game. They first bowled brilliantly to limit Punjab Kings to a very low score. Then, their batters, especially Phil Salt, finished the chase very quickly. This set of PBKS vs RCB Highlights will be remembered for RCB’s strong performance. Let’s look closely at all the key moments that made up these remarkable PBKS vs RCB Highlights.
PBKS vs RCB Highlights: Punjab Kings’ Batting Collapse
The match started with RCB winning the toss and choosing to bowl first. This decision proved to be spot on as PBKS struggled right from the start. What followed was a series of early wickets, which became the defining part of the first half of these PBKS vs RCB Highlights.
PBKS’s usually explosive top-order failed to fire. The dangerous Priyansh Arya was dismissed early in the second over for just 7 runs, caught by Krunal Pandya off Yash Dayal. Prabhsimran Singh tried to attack, hitting a six, but he too fell soon after for 18 runs from 10 balls, caught by Jitesh Sharma off Bhuvneshwar Kumar. This left PBKS at 27 for 2, a shaky start that set a tough tone for the rest of their innings in these PBKS vs RCB Highlights.
The return of Josh Hazlewood, who was coming back from injury, proved crucial for RCB. He quickly picked up two big wickets. He first dismissed PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer for just 2 runs, caught behind by Jitesh Sharma. Then, in-form Josh Inglis also fell for a mere 4 runs, caught by Bhuvneshwar Kumar. By the 5th over, PBKS had lost 4 wickets for only 38 runs, a disastrous start that highlights the bowling brilliance in these PBKS vs RCB Highlights.
The middle order of PBKS could not rebuild the innings. Nehal Wadhera (8 runs) and Shashank Singh (3 runs) also fell cheaply to Yash Dayal and Suyash Sharma respectively. PBKS was forced to bring in Musheer Khan as an Impact Player, but he too was dismissed for a duck, trapped LBW by Suyash Sharma. This left PBKS reeling at 60 for 7 in just the 9th over. The quick fall of wickets was a major feature of these PBKS vs RCB Highlights.
Marcus Stoinis (26 runs from 17 balls) and Azmatullah Omarzai (18 runs from 12 balls) tried to add some runs, hitting a couple of boundaries each. They managed to push the score past 100. However, their efforts were not enough. Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Suyash Sharma, and Romario Shepherd continued to pick up wickets. PBKS was eventually bowled out for a very low total of just 101 runs in 14.1 overs. This sub-par score was the main reason for their defeat in these PBKS vs RCB Highlights.
Josh Hazlewood and Suyash Sharma were the stars with the ball, both picking up 3 wickets each. Yash Dayal grabbed 2 wickets, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Romario Shepherd took one each. RCB’s bowling attack was disciplined and clinical, completely outclassing PBKS’s batters and providing the foundation for these memorable PBKS vs RCB Highlights.
PBKS vs RCB Highlights: RCB’s Swift Chase
Chasing a small target of 102 runs, Royal Challengers Bengaluru started their innings positively, showing no signs of nervousness. This quick chase became the highlight of the second part of these PBKS vs RCB Highlights.
Virat Kohli and Phil Salt opened the batting for RCB. Both looked in good touch, hitting early boundaries. Kohli scored 12 runs from 12 balls before being caught by Josh Inglis off Kyle Jamieson. This gave PBKS a small ray of hope, as they had dismissed one of the best chasers in the game. The score was 30 for 1 in the 4th over.
Kyle Jamieson then bowled a challenging over to Mayank Agarwal, troubling him with some good deliveries. However, Phil Salt took charge from the other end. He launched a stunning attack, hitting boundaries and sixes with ease. Salt brought up a quick-fire fifty off just 23 balls, which was his fastest in IPL history. This explosive batting completely dashed all hopes for PBKS. Salt’s innings was the standout batting performance in these PBKS vs RCB Highlights.
Mayank Agarwal also contributed with a quick 19 runs from 13 balls, including a six. He was dismissed by PBKS’s Impact Player, Musheer Khan. But by then, the game was already in RCB’s hands.
Fittingly, RCB captain Rajat Patidar, who had also led the team in the match, was at the crease to finish the chase. He hit a six to seal the victory. RCB reached the target of 106 for 2 in just 10 overs, with exactly 10 overs to spare. This was RCB’s biggest win by balls remaining in IPL playoff history, making it a truly dominant performance in these PBKS vs RCB Highlights.
Phil Salt remained unbeaten on 56 runs off just 27 balls, hitting 6 fours and 3 sixes at an amazing strike rate of 207.40. His performance was the driving force behind RCB’s comfortable win and a highlight of these PBKS vs RCB Highlights.
Key Performers in PBKS vs RCB Highlights
Several players delivered exceptional performances that shaped these PBKS vs RCB Highlights:
- Phil Salt (RCB): The star with the bat, scoring a blazing 56* off 27 balls, including a 23-ball fifty. His aggressive approach ensured a swift chase.
- Josh Hazlewood (RCB): Made a brilliant return from injury, picking up 3 crucial wickets for just 21 runs in 3.1 overs. He dismantled PBKS’s top order.
- Suyash Sharma (RCB): The spinner was outstanding, taking 3 wickets for only 17 runs in his 3 overs, breaking PBKS’s middle and lower order. He was rightly named the Player of the Match for his superb bowling.
- Yash Dayal (RCB): Provided crucial early breakthroughs, taking 2 wickets for 26 runs in 4 overs.
- Rajat Patidar (RCB): Led the team well as captain, making smart bowling changes, and finished the chase with a quick 15* off 8 balls.
- Marcus Stoinis (PBKS): Top-scored for PBKS with 26 runs (17 balls) in a struggling innings.
These individual efforts created the memorable moments in these PBKS vs RCB Highlights.
What This Means for PBKS and RCB After the Highlights
This dominant victory in PBKS vs RCB Highlights means Royal Challengers Bengaluru have stormed into the IPL 2025 Final after a gap of 9 years. Their disciplined bowling and explosive batting showed why they finished second in the league stage. They will now have a few days break and will wait to see who they face in the final on Tuesday, June 3, in Ahmedabad.
For Punjab Kings, this was a tough defeat. Despite finishing at the top of the points table, they failed to perform in this crucial match. However, all is not lost for PBKS. According to the IPL playoff format, the losing team of Qualifier 1 gets another chance. PBKS will now face the winner of the Eliminator match (between Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians, played tomorrow). This next match, Qualifier 2, will decide who plays RCB in the final. PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer expressed confidence, stating, “We have lost the battle, but not the war.” He believes the team can learn from their mistakes and bounce back in Qualifier 2.
These PBKS vs RCB Highlights mark a significant moment for RCB, who are now just one win away from their maiden IPL title. For PBKS, it’s a chance to regroup and fight one last time for a spot in the ultimate showdown.
Conclusion: A Memorable Victory in PBKS vs RCB Highlights
The PBKS vs RCB Highlights from IPL 2025 Qualifier 1 will be remembered for Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s absolutely dominant performance. Their bowlers set up the victory by bundling out Punjab Kings for a very low score, and then Phil Salt led a super-fast chase to seal the win by 8 wickets with plenty of overs to spare.
This match showed RCB’s strong form and determination. They are now just one step away from lifting the IPL trophy. While it was a tough day for PBKS, they still have a chance to make it to the final. These PBKS vs RCB Highlights prove that the IPL playoffs are full of excitement and unexpected turns!
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