Kohli Earns Player of the Match for Stellar Performance

MULLANPUR: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) clinched a convincing seven-wicket triumph over Punjab Kings in the 37th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. This victory was propelled by a collaborative bowling effort and an impressive unbeaten half-century from Virat Kohli.

RCB’s captain, Rajat Patidar, opted to bowl first, a decision that proved fruitful as the bowling attack successfully restricted the home side to a total of 157/6 in their allotted 20 overs.

Punjab Kings’ Innings

The Kings initiated their innings energetically, with Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya forging a rapid 42-run partnership. However, Krunal Pandya intervened, dismissing both openers in quick succession and leaving the hosts at 62/2 in 6.1 overs.

Singh emerged as the top scorer for the Kings, contributing a dynamic 33 off 17 balls, which included five boundaries and a six. Arya supported with 22 runs from 15 deliveries, hitting three fours and a six.

The Kings then encountered further setbacks, losing two additional wickets – skipper Shreyas Iyer (six) and Nehal Wadhera (five) – in short order, which caused their position to deteriorate to 76/4 in nine overs.

Following this downturn, middle-order batsman Shashank Singh partnered with wicketkeeper Josh Inglis, aiming to stabilize and rebuild the innings.

Together, they managed to add 36 runs before Inglis was dismissed by Suyash Sharma in the 14th over. Inglis contributed 29 runs from 17 balls, including two fours and a six.

The Kings faced another setback in the same over when Marcus Stoinis (one) was dismissed after facing only two balls.

Singh eventually found solid support from Marco Jansen, and together they constructed an unbroken 43-run partnership, guiding the Kings past the 150-run threshold. Singh remained cautiously unbeaten on 31 from 33 balls, while Jansen contributed an unbeaten 25 off 20 balls, highlighted by two sixes.

For RCB, Pandya and Sharma were the leading wicket-takers, each claiming two wickets, while Romario Shepherd secured one.

RCB’s Chase

In pursuit of a target of 158 runs, the visiting team secured the required runs with ease, losing only three wickets and with seven balls remaining. Kohli’s steadying innings was key to their success.

The batting mainstay led the scoring for RCB with an undefeated 73 off 54 balls, featuring seven boundaries and one six.

He also participated in a crucial 103-run partnership for the second wicket alongside Devdutt Padikkal, who scored 61 off 35 balls, hitting five fours and four sixes.

Kohli was named Player of the Match for his pivotal innings.

For the Kings, Harpreet Brar, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Arsheep Singh each managed to secure one wicket.

This seven-wicket victory propelled Royal Challengers Bengaluru to the third spot in the IPL 2025 standings, with 10 points from eight matches. Delhi Capitals remained in fourth place due to a lower net run rate.