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Youngster Nehal Wadhera played a composed and confident knock to guide Punjab Kings (PBKS) to a comfortable win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in a rain-affected Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 match at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday. Chasing a target of 96 in a 14-over-a-side contest, PBKS reached 98/5 in 12.1 overs, registering their fifth win of the season. Wadhera remained unbeaten on 33 off just 19 deliveries, laced with three fours and three sixes. Marcus Stoinis sealed the game with a six, providing the finishing touch to a clinical chase.

Punjab got off to a quick start through openers Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh. However, the duo fell in quick succession. Prabhsimran was the first to go, dismissed for 13 by Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Arya followed soon after, scoring 16 off 11 balls before falling to Josh Hazlewood. At that stage, PBKS were 32/2 in 3.4 overs.
Captain Shreyas Iyer and Josh Inglis attempted to stabilise the innings, but both fell cheaply. Iyer was removed for 7 by Hazlewood, who also got the better of Inglis (14 off 17) shortly after to complete a superb three-wicket haul. PBKS were suddenly wobbling at 53/4.

Shashank Singh was dismissed for 1 by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, leaving PBKS at 81/5. However, Wadhera and Stoinis steadied the ship and ensured there were no further hiccups. Their calm and calculated partnership saw Punjab over the line with 11 balls to spare. 

For RCB, Josh Hazlewood was the standout bowler with figures of 3/14, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar chipped in with 2/26. Earlier, Punjab Kings' bowlers stuck to their plans and restricted Royal Challengers Bengaluru to 95/9 in the rain-curtailed match in which each side will get to play 14 overs. PBKS Shreyas Iyer won the toss and opted to bowl first against RCB. The duo of Virat Kohli and Phil Salt opened the innings for RCB. Arshdeep Singh removed Phil Salt in the very first over for 4. RCB skipper Rajat Patidar joined Virat Kohli in the middle.

In the second over, Rajat Patidar crossed 1000 IPL runs and became the second fastest Indian batter to do so. Arshdeep took early wickets as he removed Virat Kohli in the third over for 1(3), and Liam Livingstone joined Patidar at the crease. Xavier Bartlett removed Livingstone in the fourth over, for 4. PBKS players took good catches in the power-play, Jitesh Sharma joined RCB skipper. Veteran spinner Yuzvendra Chahal removed wicketkeeper/batter Jitesh Sharma for two in the 7th over. RCB kept losing wickets at regular intervals.

RCB's impact player Manoj Bhandage didn't make any impact with the bat as he was removed by Jansen for one in the ninth over. Harpreet Brar, playing his first match of this season, took back-to-back wickets in his first over. He removed Bhuvneshwar for 8 and Yash Dayal in the 12th over. David was the lone warrior for RCB in batting. He smashed three sixes in the final over and scored an unbeaten 50 off 26 balls.

Marco Jansen (2/ 10)was the pick of the bowlers for PBKS. Arshdeep, Chahal, and Brar took two wickets each, and Xavier Bartlett grabbed a wicket.

ANI

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