Bengaluru, in a tainted 14-over Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 encounter at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Friday, Punjab Kings upset Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) by five wickets thanks to an undefeated 33 off 19.
The Chinnaswamy Stadium, which is often a batting haven, was transformed into a slugging, slow-burning match that demonstrated how much this renowned venue has changed from what it once was. The game was reduced to 14 overs each side due to a two-hour rain delay. Although the abbreviated format usually promises pyrotechnics, Thursday night’s low-scorer was nerve-racking, with every mistimed pull and flat-batted slap seeming like a gamble worth regretting.
It had previously seemed like RCB may not even reach the 50-run milestone. Their innings descended into a series of miscalculated strokes, tight bowling, and the difficult bounce of the pitch after they lost the toss and were ordered to bat.
They were only able to go close to three figures because of Tim David’s one and only resistance, a strong, counterpunching fifty not out off twenty-six balls. RCB escaped the shame of recording their lowest-ever IPL total thanks to his undefeated half-century, which was interspersed with commanding strokes even as wickets dropped all around him.
The decay started early. When Punjab needed him, Arshdeep Singh, who had only taken two power-play wickets all season, rediscovered his groove. Phil Salt, top-edged straight to square leg, attempting to pull off a rising length ball. Virat Kohli was trying to charge him when Arshdeep drew his length back and found the splice of his bat—Marco Jansen made a clean catch at mid-on.
Arshdeep now has 86 wickets, surpassing Piyush Chawla as Punjab’s top wicket-taker in IPL history with those two.
Rajat Patidar’s aggressive purpose only resulted in a four and a six before he became Yuzvendra Chahal’s first victim, caught at long-range while trying to clear the infield, further compounding RCB’s problems. When a sloppy Jansen delivery pinned Impact Player Manoj Bhandage lbw before he could even begin, the plan to send him in backfired tragically.
For a few second, it seemed that David’s valor may be sufficient.
Punjab’s pursuit got off to a bad start. The initial boundary flew over the slip cordon after bouncing off Arya’s outside edge. The next ball was a worry for Prabhsimran Singh (13) who miscued a flick that fell safely. It seemed as if regular service was returning when he eventually found some time to transport Bhuvneshwar over his head and through further cover in the same over.
Bhuvi, who is usually the fox, let the away movement do the rest and pulled his length further. At mid-off, Prabhsimran mistimed a flat-bat shot and gave David a straightforward catch. The pitch seemed bigger and the boundaries further away when PBKS was 22 for 1.
Life was made much more difficult by Josh Hazlewood, who enjoyed the surface’s stickiness. His height, nagging length, and sharp bounce made it impossible for hitters to pull or smack him. After top-edged a draw for six, Priyansh Arya (16) tried to flat-bat another and ended up providing catching practice at mid-off.
Then, in his second over, Hazlewood hit a vicious one-two. A rising ball that was aimed over Shreyas Iyer (7) first appeared, giving Jitesh Sharma a fantastic upper edge that allowed him to jump and arch behind the stumps. Then, lured by a somewhat shorter ball, Inglis (14) attempted a cut and ended up in deep third. Punjab was suddenly faltering at 52 for 4 after being 46 for 2.
Nehal Wadhera held firm in this sea of doubt. Despite his lack of flair, the left-hander recognized the situation. Wadhera attempted a poorly timed reverse sweep against Suyash Sharma, who was receiving a lot of drift and variation, but he managed to find the space.
Wadhera fired it over cow corner after the legspinner made a mistake with a loopy full-toss in the center. The left-hander waited for his turn despite Suyash tightening up and Hazlewood giving up only two runs in his last over.
Wadhera stepped in when 32 was required from 24 balls. Over long-off, a wide, overpitched ball was crushed. The bat and keeper were then savagely outrun for four byes by a full leg-break from around the wicket. Wadhera drove the ball past the covers after it was overpitched once again. The target had been raised to touching distance by the pressure.
When Shashank Singh tried to go over the top and holed out at long-on off Bhuvneshwar, there was a fleeting glimmer of optimism for RCB. When the equation fell from 15 to 15, the audience once again found its voice. Wadhera, however, tucked one fine for four before caressing another through further cover, grinning and unfazed.
Marcus Stoinis was left to complete the transaction. With 11 balls remaining in the chase, he muscled a short delivery over midwicket while remaining leg-side of the ball.
Short scores:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru lost to Punjab Kings 98/5 in 12.1 overs (Nehal Wadhera 33 not out, Priyansh Arya 16; Josh Hazlewood 3-14, Bhuvneshwar Kumar 2-26) by five wickets after scoring 95/9 in 14 overs (Tim David 50 not out, Rajat Patidar 23; Marco Jansen 2-10, Yuzvendra Chahal 2-11).
