RCB thrashed PBKS by eight wickets to qualify for the IPL final after nine years.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) hammered Punjab Kings (PBKS) by eight wickets in Qualifier 1 of the IPL 2025 season on Thursday (May 29) to secure a berth in the tournament final.
Opting to bowl first, the Bengaluru-based franchise skittled PBKS out for 101 runs in 14.1 overs and then overhauled the paltry target in 10 overs thanks to Phil Salt’s blazing half-century (56* off 27).
Suyash Sharma (3-17 in 3 overs) and Josh Hazlewood (3-21 in 3.1 overs) were the wrecker-in-chief with the ball for RCB, returning with three wickets each. Yash Dayal (2-26 in 4 overs), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1-17 in 2 overs) and Romario Shepherd (1-5 in 1 over) shared the four scalps among them.
After the game, former South African captain AB de Villiers delivered a message to the passionate RCB fans.
“The time has come. RCB is going all the way. I am not allowed to say the Bengaluru terms (Ee Saala Cup Namde) because of Virat (Kohli). He told me that I am not allowed to say that anymore, but I truly believe we are going all the way this season. So stay tuned, buckle up and enjoy the ride," de Villiers said while speaking on the ESPNcricinfo show.
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Despite having made it to the IPL final on three previous occasions (2009, 2011, and 2016), RCB are still chasing their maiden title.
In the IPL 2025 final, slated to be held in Ahmedabad on June 3, RCB will face the winner of Qualifier 2.
Talking about Punjab Kings, the table-toppers of the league stage will have another opportunity to reach the final. They will now come up against the winner of Eliminator clash between Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2 at Ahmedabad on June 1.