Royal Challengers Bengaluru stormed into the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 final with a commanding 8-wicket win over Punjab Kings in Qualifier 1 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Stadium, Mullanpur. Opting to bowl first on a good surface, RCB’s bowlers laid the foundation for a one-sided encounter, bundling out PBKS for just 101 in 14.1 overs. In reply, RCB cruised to 106/2 in 10 overs, with eight wickets in hand a testament to their dominance on the night.
Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma wreck PBKS as batting implodes in Qualifier 1
Punjab’s batting unravelled completely in the most crucial game of the season. Shreyas Iyer’s side never looked settled after a shaky start, losing Priyansh Arya in the second over. Despite quickfire starts from Prabhsimran Singh (18 off 10) and Marcus Stoinis (26 off 17), PBKS failed to build any partnerships. Josh Hazlewood (3/21) and Suyash Sharma (3/17) exploited the conditions superbly, striking at regular intervals to break the back of the innings.
The turning point came with the dismissals of Josh Inglis, Shreyas Iyer and Nehal Wadhera within the powerplay, which left the middle order exposed and under pressure. Musheer Khan, on PBKS debut, was brought in as an Impact Player but fell for a duck, while only Azmatullah Omarzai showed brief resistance with 18 off 12. From 60/5, PBKS crumbled to 101 all out in just 14.1 overs, a total far below par in modern T20 cricket.
Also READ: IPL 2025: Fans brutally roast Preity Zinta’s Punjab Kings for their ugly batting collapse against RCB in Qualifier 1
Phil Salt’s blazing fifty for RCB crushes any hopes of PBKS’ fightback
RCB’s chase was a walk in the park, largely due to a fiery innings from Phil Salt. The England batter blasted a 23-ball fifty and finished unbeaten on 56 off 27 balls with 6 fours and 3 sixes, showing no mercy to a demoralized PBKS bowling attack. While Virat Kohli fell early for 12 and Mayank Agarwal chipped in with a quick 19, the result was never in doubt. Rajat Patidar, leading the side, calmly supported Salt at the other end. RCB skipper Patidar finished the game in style with a six over deep midwicket. PBKS’s bowlers looked toothless in the face of RCB’s aggression, and the fielding lacked any spark to mount a comeback. With this crushing win, RCB sealed their spot in the IPL 2025 final their second in three years while Punjab, despite a promising season, were left searching for answers after a humiliating defeat in the biggest match of their campaign.
Here’s how netizens reacted:
One Step Away from Glory! Congratulations to RCB on scintillating display. The trio of Yash Dayal, Bhuveaneswar Kumar and Hazelwood was unplayable. Aur @imvkohli kya kehne. Mind blowing energy #RCBvsPBKS @RCBTweets pic.twitter.com/OGum7D8Oqo
— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) May 29, 2025
RCB in the finals. Deserve every bit of it. Congratulations to their fans. The bowling had sting in it.
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) May 29, 2025
This is why the system for the play-offs is so good. #PunjabKings have played outstanding cricket and they deserve another opportunity.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) May 29, 2025
#RCBvPBKS #Qualifier1 #IPL2025 pic.twitter.com/RpkwPXgx8D
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) May 29, 2025
It took a while for RCB to understand that good old cricketing truth. Bowlers win you games.
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) May 29, 2025
Josh Hazlewood might just end up making this @RCBTweets’ year after all. What a season he’s had & back at such a crucial juncture #IPL2025
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) May 29, 2025
Finals! Yay! Fingers crossed.
— Danish Sait (@DanishSait) May 29, 2025
This will be the biggest test of Ponting and Shreyas.
A defeat like this, it can be daunting but they move away from a venue they have never had good record.
How they put pieces together from here, will be worth watching.
RCB can rest, wait for them, again? 🤔#IPL2025
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) May 29, 2025
RCB cruise to the final of 2025 IPL with a thumping victory 🤩#Cricket #PBKSvRCB #rcb #ipl2025playoffs pic.twitter.com/OFPlzF8kZ8
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) May 29, 2025
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆. 🏆
Through grit, grind, and some glorious cricket, we’re into the big one! pic.twitter.com/HkidnNOJIY
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) May 29, 2025
Also READ: IPL 2025: Fans brutally troll PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer after reckless shot leads to dismissal vs RCB in Qualifier 1
