Punjab Kings Outclass RCB by 5 Wickets in Rain-Shortened Thriller at Chinnaswamy
Punjab Kings (PBKS) clinched a convincing 5-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in a rain-shortened IPL 2025 clash at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. The match was reduced to 14 overs per side due to weather interruptions, and PBKS skipper Shreyas Iyer opted to bowl first after winning the toss.
RCB’s batting faltered dramatically as they lost wickets in clusters, slumping to 42/7 at one stage. Punjab’s bowlers, led by a collective effort where all but one picked up two wickets each, maintained relentless pressure. Only Tim David offered resistance, smashing a fighting fifty to lift RCB to 95/9, giving their bowlers a slim chance.
Chasing 96, PBKS lost both openers early but never faced serious scoreboard pressure. Josh Hazlewood’s double strike briefly raised RCB’s hopes, but Nehal Wadhera anchored the chase with a composed 33 off 19 balls, hitting three sixes and three fours. Marcus Stoinis sealed the win with a six, as PBKS reached 98/5 in 12.1 overs.
With this result, Punjab Kings climbed to second on the points table, while RCB dropped to fourth. The match showcased PBKS’s sharp bowling and calm approach under pressure, while RCB suffered their third consecutive home defeat, raising concerns about their batting depth and adaptability in challenging conditions.