In a match dominated by bowlers at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, it was Nehal Wadhera’s calm under pressure that proved decisive as Punjab Kings (PBKS) handed Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) their third home defeat of the season.
Despite impressive bowling performances from both sides—Arshdeep Singh, Marco Jansen, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Harpreet Brar each claiming two wickets for PBKS, while Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar picked up three and two wickets respectively for RCB—it was Wadhera unbeaten 33 off just 19 balls that sealed the win for Punjab. His innings, featuring three boundaries and three sixes, came at a crucial juncture when PBKS were under pressure.
RCB, led by Rajat Patidar, struggled to post a competitive total in a rain-affected encounter reduced to 14 overs. They managed just 95/9, thanks largely to Tim David’s unbeaten half-century—his first in the IPL—which earned him the Player of the Match award. David’s late fireworks included three consecutive sixes off Harpreet Brar, briefly reviving hopes for the home side.
Earlier, PBKS’ decision to bowl first after winning the toss paid off. Arshdeep struck early, removing Phil Salt in the opening over, while Marco Jansen backed it up with a sharp catch to dismiss Virat Kohli. RCB slumped to 26/3 in the powerplay, with Liam Livingstone also falling cheaply.
Yuzvendra Chahal, returning to his former IPL home ground, delivered a tight spell (2/11), including the key wicket of Jitesh Sharma. Skipper Rajat Patidar showed glimpses of resistance with a fluent 23 but couldn’t build on his start, falling to Bartlett at sweeper cover.
Marco Jansen (2/10) continued to apply pressure, dismissing Krunal Pandya and Impact Player Manoj Bhandage with cleverly directed short balls. Though David’s explosive finish lifted RCB’s total, it was never quite enough.
Chasing 96, PBKS found themselves in early trouble after Hazlewood’s fiery spell, which included two wickets in a single over. But Wadhera rose to the occasion, launching a counterattack that turned the tide. His assault on leg-spinner Suyash Sharma helped Punjab regain momentum, eventually taking them over the line with composure.
Wadhera credited PBKS’ fighting spirit after the game, saying, “Our never-give-up attitude won us the match.”
With this win, PBKS moved to second on the points table with 10 points, just behind leaders Delhi Capitals. RCB, on the other hand, will have to regroup quickly as questions begin to arise about both form and conditions—especially after back-to-back defeats at home. Even team mentor Dinesh Karthik expressed concerns about the Chinnaswamy pitch’s behavior in post-match remarks.
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