Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal’s controlled aggression took Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a seven-wicket win over Punjab Kings in their IPL 2025 game away in Mullanpur.
RCB had restricted Punjab to only 157 for six at their own backyard and then completed their run chase in 18.5 overs with Kohli and Padikkal putting on a 103-run second wicket stand.
Kohli remained unbeaten on 73 off 54 balls with seven boundaries and a six while Padikkal made 61 off 35 balls with five fours and four sixes.
RCB improved to 10 points after eight matches to jump to third in the standings while Punjab are fourth. The top five teams all have 10 points and are separated by run rates.
It was RCB’s third win on the road and Kohli has played a key role in all those wins, carrying his bat in run chases.
RCB spinners shine
Earlier, RCB spinners choked runs in the middled as Punjab Kings could only reach 157/6. RCB won the toss and opted to bowl following which Punjab got an encouraging start with 42 runs in 4.2 overs.
Priyansh Arya (22) and Prabhsimran Singh (33) were going great guns with their short-arm pull shots and hit-through-line jabs. It looked Punjab were on course for a big score.
But the pitch in Mullanpur had a hint of sluggishness that was exploited to the hilt by RCB spinners Krunal Pandya (2/25) and Suyash Sharma (2/27).
RCB sjupper Rajat Paidar brought on Pnadya in the fifth over as he dismissed Arya almost immediately as he was caught in the inside circle.
That triggered a mini collapse as Punjab then lost three wickets in their next 14 deliveries to slump to 76 for four. Adding to Punjab’s woes was a terrible mix-up and subsequent run out of Nehal Wadhera, who was stranded on the pitch by Jos Inglis.
Shashank Singh (31 not out) made use of being dropped on 27 off Bhuvneshwar Kumar. And together with Marco Jansen (25 not out) put on 43 runs for the seventh wicket to pull Punjb past the 150-run mark.
Jansen completed their innings with a six straight down the ground off Josh Hazlewood but it was on the fifth six of their innings as Punjab made only 38 runs in the last five overs.
Brief Scores: Punjab Kings 157 for 6 in 20 overs (Prabhsimran Singh 33, Shashank Singh 31 not out; Krunal Pandya (2/25), Suyash Sharma (2/26).
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: 159 for 3 in 18.5 overs (Virat Kohli 73, Devdutt Padikkal 61).
Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Pubjab Kings by seven wickets in an IPL 2025 game in Mullanpur as Virat Kohli sparkled wiith an unbeaten half-century. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
