Royal Challengers Bangalore Crush Punjab Kings to Reach IPL Final After 7 Years
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) stamped their authority with an impressive eight-wicket victory over Punjab Kings (PBKS), cruising into their first IPL final since 2016. On a tricky pitch offering seam movement and extra bounce, the PBKS batting lineup couldn’t handle the pressure, folding for just 101 runs. Meanwhile, RCB’s chase was powered by a blistering innings from Phil Salt, who dismantled the bowling attack with a record-breaking 23-ball fifty, sealing the win with a full 10 overs to spare.
Tough Conditions, Tougher Bowling
The pitch at New Chandigarh was anything but a batsman’s paradise. Seamers relished the extra bounce and lateral movement, making every run hard-earned. PBKS struggled to tame the pace and movement from RCB’s fast bowlers, who combined perfectly to take seven wickets. The legspinner Suyash Sharma also made a significant impact, capitalizing on the Punjab batsmen’s reckless attempts to sweep him — they failed to pick his wrong’uns, resulting in three wickets.
What stood out was how RCB’s pace attack consistently hit the hard lengths, exploiting the conditions to perfection. The ball kept doing more in the second innings, with seam and bounce making life very difficult for the PBKS batsmen.
PBKS Batting Breakdown: Struggle and Stubbornness
Punjab Kings got off to a shaky start. Priyansh Arya, who opened with Prabhsimran Singh, couldn’t control his drives, getting caught behind early. Prabhsimran showed some fight by charging Bhuvneshwar Kumar and smashing two fours, but it was Bhuvneshwar who finally got the edge that broke the opening stand.
Then Josh Hazlewood came on and exposed the difficulty of the pitch. Shreyas Iyer, struggling for runs this season, tried to pull a Hazlewood delivery and ended up edging it to the keeper. Josh Inglis fell similarly on the next ball, with the extra bounce catching the top edge.
PBKS never really adjusted their approach despite the evident difficulties. They kept trying to play aggressively, which backfired on a surface that demanded patience and precision. This aggressive mindset cost them dearly as they lost crucial wickets to Suyash Sharma’s spin — especially through risky sweep shots that failed to read the googly.
Phil Salt: The Game-Changer
The star of the show was without question Phil Salt. His rapid-fire innings set the tone for the chase, demolishing the PBKS bowling attack in a breathtaking display of power hitting. Salt’s 50 came off just 23 balls — one of the fastest IPL fifties — and he effectively broke the back of the target in the powerplay itself, racing to 56 not out.
Salt's aggressive approach paid dividends. After a brief but impactful cameo from Virat Kohli, who started with an emphatic pulled four but got out for 12, Salt took over the proceedings. He hammered boundaries with a ferocious cut, a powerful pull, and crisp drives through the covers.
Key Moments in the Bowling Battle
PBKS bowlers had a tough day, especially with the ball moving around so much. Despite the tough conditions, they tried to keep up the pressure, but RCB’s batsmen were ready. Kyle Jamieson, surprisingly promoted up the order at No. 10, bowled well, finishing with figures of 1-27. He created problems for Mayank Agarwal early on, but his luck ran out during the chase.
Suyash Sharma’s leg spin was the key in choking the PBKS batsmen. His tricky wrong’uns bowled out several Punjab players who couldn’t resist sweeping. Meanwhile, experienced bowlers like Hazlewood and Dayal tried their best to contain RCB but found Salt in relentless form.
What PBKS Could Have Done Differently
Looking back, Punjab might have reconsidered their strategy and aimed for a more modest total around 160, given the pitch conditions. The surface clearly favored bowlers, especially seamers, and was unforgiving against rash shots. However, the fast pace of T20 cricket often makes such mid-game recalibrations difficult.
Instead, the PBKS batsmen tried to maintain their aggressive style, which backfired spectacularly on a day when patience could have been the better part of valor. Their failure to read spin and seam consistently allowed RCB’s bowling unit to tighten the noose and dismantle the batting lineup with clinical precision.
The Final Blow and Celebration
Once Salt and Rajat Patidar got going, the victory was never in doubt. Patidar finished things off in style with a massive slog sweep for six, putting the icing on the cake. The win by eight wickets was comprehensive and showed RCB’s balance and composure under pressure.
For RCB, this win was a big statement — a return to the IPL final after seven years. Their bowlers set the tone early, while the batsmen finished the job quickly and stylishly. It was a team effort, but Salt’s electrifying knock will be remembered as the defining moment of the match.
Quick Highlights & Exciting Stats:
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Phil Salt’s IPL record: Fastest fifty for RCB off just 23 balls
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Bowling dominance: RCB pacers took 7 wickets with tight lengths and lethal bounce
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Spin surprise: Legspinner Suyash Sharma picked up 3 crucial wickets with deceptive wrong’uns
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PBKS total: Bowled out for a mere 101 on a challenging pitch
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RCB chase: Finished comfortably at 106/2 with 10 overs remaining
What This Means Moving Forward
This win sets RCB up for a thrilling final showdown, with the confidence and momentum firmly on their side. Their ability to adapt to difficult conditions and execute under pressure will make them tough opponents. Meanwhile, PBKS will need to go back to the drawing board and rethink their batting strategies, especially their approach to spin and tricky pitches.
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