PBKS vs RCB Qualifier 1 Match Report: RCB Crush Punjab to Reach IPL 2025 Final

Defeating Punjab Kings by 8 wickets, the Royal Challengers Bangalore are set to play their third IPL final on 3rd June against the winner of Qualifier 2. RCB dominated the PBKS in both the batting and bowling departments to reach the final.

ONE MORE ☝️

That’s the word from the #RCB camp – IYKYK ❤️#TATAIPL | #PBKSvRCB | #Qualifier1 | #TheLastMile pic.twitter.com/kNe1kpgPYS

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 29, 2025

RCB bowlers dominated the PBKS batters in the match, getting all of them for just 101. By restricting opponents to this low total, RCB almost won the fifty percent match in the first half, and the remaining work was done by Phil Salt’s attacking fifty, and RCB chased down the target in just 10 overs to make it to the IPL 2025 final. RCB has been amazing throughout the season, losing just four out of 15 matches. Now the in-form team will play the final on 3rd June against the winner of Qualifier 2.

PBKS vs RCB Qualifier 1 Match Report

Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Rajat Patidar won the toss in Qualifier 1 and elected to bowl first against Punjab Kings at Mullanpur Stadium, which is also one of the home grounds of PBKS.

Both teams’ playing XIs

RCB: Virat Kohli, Philip Salt, Rajat Patidar(C), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma(WK), Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma

PBKS: Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Josh Inglis(WK), Shreyas Iyer(C), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Azmatullah Omarzai, Harpreet Brar, Arshdeep Singh, Kyle Jamieson

Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh came out to open for Punjab Kings, but RCB bowlers were ready with their plans. They never allowed the PBKS batters to settle and took wickets regularly. Thanks to a 26-run knock from Marcus Stoinis, PBKS managed to reach 101 runs in 14.1 overs before being bowled out. No batter looked good in the middle. Shreyas Iyer, who has been a key player for PBKS this season, got out on just 2 runs. Josh Hazlewood and Suyash Sharma took 3 wickets each, while Yash Dayal got 2, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Romario Shepherd also got 1 each.

While chasing the target, RCB looked positive and started well. However, Kyle Jamieson got Virat Kohli on 12 runs, but Phil Salt continued his attack, and RCB chased down the target easily in 10 overs with a loss of 2 wickets. Salt smashed an unbeaten 56 runs off just 27 balls, including 6 fours and 3 sixes.

Overall, PBKS had no plan to counter RCB’s attack in both batting and bowling. Their batters tried to hit the ball even after losing the wickets, which did not work for them, and eventually got all out on just 101 runs.