Royal Challengers Bengaluru stormed into their fourth Indian Premier League (IPL) final with a commanding eight-wicket victory over Punjab Kings in Qualifier 1 of the 2025 season. Spearheaded by incisive spells from Suyash Sharma and Josh Hazlewood, and capped off by a fluent half-century from Phil Salt, RCB now stands just one win away from clinching their elusive maiden IPL title.
At the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, RCB’s bowling unit dismantled PBKS for a paltry 101 in just 14.1 overs. Suyash and Hazlewood both claimed three wickets apiece, leaving the opposition in tatters. In response, England’s Phil Salt anchored the chase with an unbeaten 56, guiding Bengaluru home in just 10 overs and securing a place in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium on June 3.
Speaking after the match, RCB captain Rajat Patidar emphasized the team’s readiness and the importance of fan support.
“We’ve had plenty of practice throughout the tournament. Missing one session doesn’t hurt when you’re this focused,” said Patidar. “RCB fans have been incredible—not just in Chinnaswamy, but everywhere we go, it feels like home. One more game to go, and then we’ll celebrate together.”
Patidar was full of praise for Suyash Sharma, whose tricky wrong’uns and stump-to-stump accuracy flummoxed the Punjab batters.
“As a captain, I give him a clear plan—just aim for the stumps. His variations are tough to pick, and I don’t mind if he concedes a few runs. He’s a real asset in the middle overs,” he said.
The skipper also lauded opener Phil Salt, who continues to deliver explosive starts at the top of the order.
“Watching Salt bat from the dugout is a treat. The way he’s been setting the tone match after match—I’m a big fan,” Patidar added.
On the other side, PBKS skipper Shreyas Iyer maintained a resilient tone despite the heavy loss.
“It’s not a day to forget, but a day to learn. We lost too many wickets up front. We need to revisit our batting strategy,” Iyer said in the post-match presentation.
While he backed the team’s pre-game planning, Iyer admitted that the execution fell short.
“We can’t fault the bowlers—it was a tough total to defend. The bounce here has been variable, but we’re professionals. We must adapt and take responsibility. We’ve lost the battle, but not the war.”
Punjab Kings will now face the winner of the Eliminator in Qualifier 2 at Ahmedabad on Sunday for a second shot at reaching the final.
