Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal put on a show with the bat, scoring steady half-centuries to help Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) grab a comfortable seven-wicket win over Punjab Kings (PBKS) in their eighth game of IPL 2025. The match took place at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, Chandigarh.
This win meant a lot for RCB not only did they pick up their fifth victory of the season, but they also got one back over PBKS, who had beaten them earlier at the Chinnaswamy. With this result, RCB now sit third on the points table with 10 points from five wins in eight games. PBKS, who also have five wins and three losses are just behind in fourth due to net run rate.
RCB didn’t get the best of starts chasing 158, with Arshdeep Singh striking early to dismiss Phil Salt for just 1. At 6/1 after the first over, things looked a bit shaky. But then came the calm and class of Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal. The pair got into a solid rhythm, finding boundaries against both pace and spin. They brought up the 50-run mark in just 5.5 oversmaking sure the early They brought up the 50-run mark in just 5.5 oversmaking sure the early problem didn’t derail the chase.
By the end of the powerplay, RCB were 64/1, with Virat on 31* and Padikkal on 22*, both looking well set. Their 50-run stand came up in just 31 balls quick and confident. At the halfway mark, RCB looked in total control at 88/1 with Padikkal just one short of his fifty. Padikkal soon reached his first half-century of the season in just 30 balls decorated with four fours and three big sixes. It was another impressive, attacking knock from the young left-hander continuing his good form in this year’s IPL.
Jitesh Sharma dials 6⃣ to seal it in style 🙌
Virat Kohli remains unbeaten on 73*(54) in yet another chase 👏@RCBTweets secure round 2⃣ of the battle of reds ❤
Scorecard ▶ https://t.co/6htVhCbltp#TATAIPL | #PBKSvRCB pic.twitter.com/6dqDTEPoEA
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 20, 2025
Stand of Class and Control
Padikkal kept the momentum going for RCB, punishing the pacers with ease and bringing up the 100-run stand with Kohli in just 65 balls. But the solid 103-run partnership was broken when Harpreet Brar got Padikkal out for a well-made 61 off 35 balls, which included five fours and four sixes. Nehal Wadhera took a comfortable catch at long-on, and RCB found themselves at 109/2 in 12.3 overs.
Rajat Patidar then came in to support Kohli, who was in complete control. Virat brought up his 67th IPL half-century and fourth of the season in 43 balls, peppered with five boundaries. Patidar, however, couldn’t stick around for long, falling for 12 off 13 balls to Yuzvendra Chahal, caught by Marco Jansen. RCB were 143/3 in 16.4 overs.
Jitesh Sharma wrapped things up with a composed finish, hitting the winning runs with a six as RCB chased down 158 comfortably in 18.5 overs. Virat remained unbeaten on 73 off 54 balls, with eight fours and a six to his name. Earlier in the match, Krunal Pandya (2/25) and Suyash Sharma (2/27) spun a web around PBKS, limiting them to 157/6 in 20 overs on a spin-friendly surface.
PBKS started strong with Priyansh Arya (22) and Prabhsimran Singh (33) adding 42 runs in just 4.2 overs, with Arya going after pacer Yash Dayal. But the momentum quickly faded after RCB skipper Rajat Patidar brought in Krunal Pandya in the fifth over a move that turned the game. Krunal struck immediately, removing Arya, and the collapse began. PBKS lost three wickets for just 14 runs, including a messy run-out of Nehal Wadhera, and struggled to recover. Marco Jansen ended the innings with a six, but the team managed only 38 runs in the final five overs, finishing with a below-par total.
