RCB storm into IPL 2026 playoffs after thrilling win over Punjab Kings
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Dharamshala: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) became the first team to qualify for the IPL 2026 playoffs after a 23-run victory over Punjab Kings in a high-scoring encounter at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium on Sunday.
Chasing a daunting target of 223, Punjab Kings were restricted to 199/8 despite a valiant fightback, as RCB’s disciplined bowling—led by Rasikh Salam Dar’s three-wicket haul—proved decisive. The win took RCB to 18 points from 13 matches, sealing their playoff berth.
Punjab Kings’ chase got off to a disastrous start when Bhuvneshwar Kumar dismissed Priyansh Arya for a duck in the opening over. He struck again in his next over, removing Prabhsimran Singh for just two runs, caught at first slip.
RCB further tightened their grip when impact substitute Rasikh Salam Dar sent Punjab skipper Shreyas Iyer back for one. With wickets tumbling, Cooper Connolly and Suryansh Shedge attempted a recovery, adding early momentum in the Power-play as Punjab reached 49/3.
Connolly, who scored 37 off 22 balls with three fours and three sixes, was dismissed in the eighth over by Romario Shepherd, caught at deep square leg while attempting another big shot.
Shedge then built a crucial partnership with Marcus Stoinis, but RCB struck again when Virat Kohli took a sharp catch at long-off to remove Shedge for 35 off 22 balls.
Stoinis and Shashank Singh kept Punjab in the hunt with aggressive batting. Shashank shifted momentum by smashing three sixes in an over off Suyash Sharma and kept the required rate under control, while Stoinis added boundaries against Rasikh Salam Dar as Punjab reached 146/5 after 15 overs, needing 77 from the last five.
Shashank produced a spectacular helicopter shot off Bhuvneshwar Kumar and brought up a rapid half-century off just 22 balls, but Josh Hazlewood broke the stand by trapping Stoinis lbw for 37 off 25 deliveries in the 17th over.
With little support from the other end, Shashank continued his assault but was eventually dismissed for 56 off 27 balls, caught at long-on off Rasikh Salam Dar in the final over. Rasikh also picked up another wicket on the last ball as Punjab Kings ended at 199/8.
Earlier, RCB posted a commanding 222/4, powered by Venkatesh Iyer’s unbeaten 73 off 40 balls, Virat Kohli’s 58 off 37, and Devdutt Padikkal’s brisk 45 off 25.
After a cautious start of 17 runs in the first two overs, Jacob Bethell was bowled by Harpreet Brar for 11. Padikkal then lifted the tempo immediately with a six off his first ball, while Kohli and Padikkal stitched a 76-run stand for the second wicket.
Chahal was introduced to slow things down but conceded 21 runs in his first over. Brar struck again to remove Padikkal, but Kohli brought up a fluent fifty in 31 balls before falling for 58, caught at deep mid-wicket off Chahal.
Venkatesh Iyer then dominated the death overs, reaching his half-century in 29 balls and finishing unbeaten on 73, while Tim David added a quick 28 off 12 balls to push RCB past the 220 mark.
Brief Scores:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru 222/4 (20 overs) — Venkatesh Iyer 73*, Virat Kohli 58, Devdutt Padikkal 45; Harpreet Brar 2/35, Yuzvendra Chahal 1/42 — beat Punjab Kings 199/8 (20 overs) — Shashank Singh 56, Cooper Connolly 37, Suryansh Shedge 35; Rasikh Salam Dar 3/36, Bhuvneshwar Kumar 2/38 — by 23 runs.
With IANS inputs