Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) delivered one of their most complete batting performances of the season as they defeated Punjab Kings(PBKS) by 23 runs in a high-scoring clash at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium. Asked to bat first, RCB posted a massive 224/4 in 20 overs after their top and middle order dominated the PBKS bowling attack from start to finish.
Young opener Jacob Bethell started positively with two boundaries in his 11-run cameo, but the real momentum came through Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal. Kohli looked in complete control during his 58-run knock off 37 deliveries, striking four fours and three sixes while rotating strike smartly against both pace and spin.
Padikkal complemented him perfectly with an aggressive 45 off just 25 balls at a strike rate of 180. His attacking intent against the PBKS spinners ensured RCB never allowed the bowlers to settle.
Venkatesh Iyer Punishes PBKS Bowlers
The biggest blow for Punjab Kings came in the final overs when Venkatesh Iyer unleased a brutal counterattack. The left-hander remained unbeaten on 73 from only 40 deliveries and smashed eight boundaries along with four sixes in a stunning display of power-hitting.
Iyer targeted almost every bowler during the death overs, especially anything short or wide outside off stump. His partnership with Tim David completely changed the tempo of the innings. Tim David added a fiery 28 runs in just 12 balls at a strike rate above 230, helping RCB collect more than 60 runs in the final overs.
Punjab’s bowling unit struggled badly under pressure. Harpreet Brar was the economical among the frontline bowlers with figures of 2/35, while several others conceded runs at over 10 per over.
PBKS Suffer Early Collapse
Chasing a huge target of 223, the Punjab Kings needed a fast start but lost wickets almost immediately. Priyansh Arya was dismissed for a duck, and Prabhsimran Singh could score only two runs before RCB tightened their grip on the contest.
Things became even worse when captain Shreyas Iyer fell for just one run. At 19/3 inside four overs, PBKS were already under immense pressure despite the batting-friendly conditions in Dharamshala.
Rasikh Salam Dar Turns the Match AroundÂ
While RCB’s batting grabbed attention early, it was Rasikh Salam Dar who became the true game changer with the ball. The young pacer delivered a mature spell and finished with impressive figures of 3/36 in four overs.
Rasikh dismissed Shreyas Iyer at crucial moment before returning later to remove the dangerous Shashank Singh, who had almost kept Punjab alive with a blazing 56 off 27 balls that included four fours and four sixes. He also picked up the wicket of Azmatullah Omarzai in the final overs to shut the door completely on PBKS.
What stood out most was Rasikh’s composure in pressure situations. Instead of bowling predictable pace deliveries, he mixed slower balls, Yorkers, and hard length smartly to prevent the PBKS hitters from dominating.
RCB Strengthen Their Momentum
Punjab Kings fought hard through late contributions from Marcus Stonis and Shashank Singh, but the target proved too steep as they finished on 199/8 in 20 overs.
For RCB, this victory was not just about two important points. The match highlighted the team’s batting dept, finishing power, and the emergence of Rasikh Slam Dar as a dependable pace option capable of delivering under pressure. With this win, Royal Challengers Bengaluru also officially sealed their place in the IPL Playoffs, continuing their strong late-season comeback in impressive fashion.
Also Read:Â PBKS vs RCB: Venkatesh Iyer Blasts RCB Into Playoffs