IPL 2025, PBKS vs RCB: Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal and Krunal Pandya power Bangalore to five away wins in a row

RCB have now made it five out of five! On Friday night, in a rain-curtailed match, RCB were outplayed at their home ground for the third time this season. This time, though, it was an away game against the same opponent. After winning the toss and opting to bowl first, RCB restricted PBKS to 157/6 in their 20 overs. In reply, RCB chased down the target with seven wickets in hand and seven balls to spare.

PBKS make hay in the powerplay

Punjab Kings’ openers Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh got off to a flyer. They attacked Yash Dayal in the second over and didn’t even spare Josh Hazlewood. Although Krunal Pandya removed Priyansh, Prabhsimran continued the onslaught and PBKS ended the powerplay at 62/1.

Krunal Pandya’s all-round effort puts RCB on top

Krunal Pandya returned with two scalps (AP Photo)

Krunal Pandya removed Priyansh Arya in the penultimate over of the powerplay. Then, on the first ball of his second over, Prabhsimran holed out to Tim David at long-on, reducing PBKS to 62/2 but still in a solid position. In the next over, Rajat Patidar introduced debutant Romario Shepherd and Shreyas Iyer tried to take him on—only for Krunal to complete a brilliant running catch to dismiss the PBKS captain. Pandya ended with excellent figures of 2/25 in his four overs.

Death-over masterclass

A death-bowling masterclass followed from Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Just 28 runs were conceded in the final four overs, denying PBKS the flourish they would have hoped for.

Devdutt Padikkal gives RCB a big boost

Phil Salt was dismissed early by Arshdeep Singh, bringing in Devdutt Padikkal. He attacked in the powerplay and carried on in the same vein thereafter. He brought up a brisk fifty, striking five fours and four sixes at a strike rate of 174.29. Padikkal stitched a 103-run partnership with Kohli which all but sealed the contest.

The chase master strikes again

Virat Kohli slammed 59th IPL half-century (BCCI Photo)

Virat Kohli and run-chases have always gone hand in hand, and tonight was no different. Kohli was in an aggressive mood, pushing Padikkal to run harder, applauding and celebrating every big shot from the other end. While he initially played the second fiddle, once Padikkal departed, Kohli stepped up and finished things off with an unbeaten 73 off 54 balls.

With this win, RCB moved up to third on the points table with 10 points from eight matches, while PBKS slipped to fourth with the same number of points but an inferior net run rate. RCB’s NRR stands at +0.472, marginally ahead of PBKS’ +0.177.

To sum up the match in one line, as a colleague put it in our office WhatsApp group: “Sunrise, sunset, death, taxes and Kohli in a run chase — the only certainties in life.”