Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) booked their place in the IPL 2025 final with a commanding eight-wicket victory over Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Qualifier 1 at Mullanpur. This marks RCB’s fourth final appearance and their first since 2016.
Fans celebrated wildly, but the most heartwarming reaction came from Virat Kohli’s sister, Bhawna Kohli Dhingra, who posted an Instagram story right after the win. Featuring a “Finals” sticker and an amulet emoji, her post reflected immense pride and hope, symbolizing protection and positivity for the upcoming clash.
RCB Dominate with Ball and Bat
RCB’s bowlers set the tone early by demolishing PBKS’s top order, reducing them to 48/4 in the powerplay. Josh Hazlewood (3/21), Suyash Sharma (3/17), and Yash Dayal (2/26) restricted Punjab to just 101 runs in 14.1 overs.
While the chase started with quick wickets, Phil Salt stole the show with a blazing 56* off 27 balls. Captain Rajat Patidar (15*) anchored the chase alongside him as RCB wrapped up the target in just 10 overs.
Suyash Sharma Stars as Player of the Match
The star of the night, Suyash Sharma, was awarded Player of the Match. Captain Rajat Patidar praised his young spinner, saying, “He has to target the stumps, that’s his strength. His wrong’un is hard to read, and I want him to be fearless, even if he goes for a few runs.”
RCB now awaits the winner of Qualifier 2 as they prepare for their long-awaited shot at an IPL trophy.
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