TimesofIndia.com in Mullanpur: On the innings break, Punjab Kings (PBKS) gamers posed for the digital camera. The second their faces hit the massive screens, it instructed the story of the 85 minutes they’d simply endured in opposition to a charged-up Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Qualifier 1 of the IPL playoffs on the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Worldwide Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur.The faces of the Punjab Kings gamers stated all of it — battered, dejected, bruised, and in full disbelief at what had simply hit them. The celebrities of the present? The RCB bowlers.After being put in to bat first, PBKS had been annihilated by the RCB assault, bundled out for simply 101 in 14.1 overs. All the things RCB touched on the evening turned to gold — barring one weird evaluate.RCB had been merely excellent with the ball, and each bowler chipped in. Whether or not it was Yash Dayal (2/26), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1/17), Josh Hazlewood (3/21), Suyash Sharma (3/17), or Romario Shepherd (1/5) — they hunted down the PBKS batters like a pack of wolves. Their execution, aggression, and fielding depth utterly smothered Punjab.RCB put their our bodies on the road, executed each plan to perfection, and introduced relentless power onto the sphere — placing PBKS right into a deep sleep.
Whereas RCB’s bowlers had been top-class, Punjab contributed closely to their very own downfall with some atrocious cricket. There have been loads of comfortable dismissals, a flurry of rash pictures, and the tip end result was plain for all to see.PBKS had been in such a rush, they lasted solely 14.1 overs in a 20-over innings — the shortest batting innings in IPL playoff historical past. The earlier low was Delhi Capitals’ 16.1 overs in opposition to Rajasthan Royals within the IPL 2008 semifinal.Solely Prabhsimran Singh, Marcus Stoinis, and Azmatullah Omarzai managed to succeed in double digits, with Stoinis top-scoring with a 17-ball 26.The collapse started with the comfortable dismissal of Priyansh Arya, who had punished deliveries outdoors off stump all through the match. However enjoying away from the physique to a ball with further bounce, he checked his shot and supplied a easy catch to Krunal Pandya at cowl. Prabhsimran and Shreyas Iyer adopted with similar hoicks to keeper Jitesh Sharma.Josh Hazlewood, getting back from an harm layoff, picked up three massive wickets — Shreyas Iyer, Josh Inglis, and Azmatullah Omarzai.Suyash Sharma, who hadn’t been at his greatest in current matches, spun an online round Punjab’s decrease center order — eradicating Shashank Singh, influence sub Musheer Khan (for a duck), and the massive fish, Marcus Stoinis.
Romario Shepherd got here in to bowl the 14th over and capped it off by breaking Harpreet Brar’s off stump, summing up PBKS’s horror night with the bat.Chasing a modest whole, RCB had been off the blocks like they’d a flight to catch to Ahmedabad that very evening. Driving on Phil Salt’s 27-ball 56, they chased it down with eight wickets in hand and 60 balls to spare. The win helped RCB cruise into the IPL 2025 closing.Arshdeep Singh leaked 24 runs from his first two overs. The lanky Kyle Jamieson briefly introduced the silent Punjab Kings followers again into the sport after dismissing Virat Kohli — in comparable style to the best way he bought him out in the course of the inaugural World Check Championship (WTC) closing in 2021 at Southampton. Further bounce from a short-of-length supply outdoors off did the trick once more, with Kohli edging behind for Josh Inglis to finish the catch.The wicket did not deter Phil Salt, who was at his attacking greatest, smashing PBKS bowlers throughout the park. The profitable six got here off skipper Rajat Patidar’s bat.Punjab Kings will now face the winner of Gujarat Titans vs Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2, whereas RCB will get pleasure from a break and wait to play the ultimate on June 3.