Chandigarh, May 29 (UNI) There was barely a bead of sweat spilled as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) cruised into the final of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, brushing aside Punjab Kings (PBKS) with an eight-wicket thumping in Qualifier 1 at the Maharaja Yadvindra Singh International Cricket Stadium here on Thursday.
Having blown PBKS away for a paltry 101 in 14.1 overs, RCB's reply was nothing short of a sprint. English opener Phil Salt turned the modest chase into a personal exhibition of power-hitting, slamming an unbeaten 56 off just 27 balls. With six boundaries and three towering sixes, Salt ensured the target was overhauled in a mere 10 overs — making a mockery of the occasion that was supposed to test nerves and temperament.
It was Salt’s intent from ball one that set the tone. Arshdeep Singh and Kyle Jamieson bore the brunt as the right-hander cut, pulled, and lofted with clinical precision. When he wasn't finding the ropes, he was pinching quick singles and keeping the scoreboard galloping. By the time Salt crossed his 50, the result was all but a formality.
He was briefly joined by Virat Kohli (12), who edged behind off Jamieson in the fourth over with the score on 30, but even that moment failed to shake RCB’s rhythm. Mayank Agarwal (19 off 13) kept the tempo ticking with clean strikes of his own before lofting one to Shreyas Iyer off Musheer Khan. But with only 18 runs needed at that point, it was all too little, too late for PBKS.
Rajat Patidar, standing in as skipper, fittingly applied the finishing touch with an unbeaten 15 off 8 balls, sealing the win with a boundary that brought the total to 106 in the 10th over — a victory that looked more like a warm-up for the final than a high-stakes playoff.
Earlier in the evening, RCB's bowlers laid the perfect foundation. Hazlewood’s opening spell scythed through the top-order, Dayal struck early blows, and Suyash Sharma’s bag of tricks left PBKS befuddled. Jitesh Sharma's acrobatic one-handed catch to dismiss Omarzai was the defining image of the first innings — underlining the energy, precision and hunger RCB brought to the field.
This will be the fourth time RCB feature in an IPL final, having previously made it in 2009, 2011, and 2016 — though a title has remained elusive thus far. However, history may be on their side this time.
Since the current playoffs format was introduced in 2011, the winner of Qualifier 1 has gone on to lift the trophy in 11 out of 14 editions, including each of the last seven seasons (2018–2024).
With all departments firing in unison and momentum firmly behind them, RCB now find themselves one win away from glory. Their final opponents will know they face a team that’s not just in form — but in full flow.
Brief scores:
PBKS 101 all out in 14.1 overs (Marcus Stoinis 26, Azmatullah Omarzai 18; Josh Hazlewood 3/21, Suyash Sharma 3/17); RCB 106/2 in 10 overs (Phil Salt 56*, Mayank Agarwal 19, Rajat Patidar 15*; Musheer Khan 1/27, Kyle Jamieson 1/27);
Result: Royal Challengers Bengaluru won by 8 wickets; Toss: RCB won the toss and opted to bowl
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