The Punjab Kings (PBKS) extended their winning momentum in the IPL 2025 with a commanding five-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Friday.
In a match curtailed by rain and reduced to 14 overs per side, Punjab won the toss and chose to bowl—a decision that paid off handsomely.
With challenging pitch conditions in play, PBKS’s bowling unit—led by Arshdeep Singh, Marco Jansen, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Harpreet Brar—delivered a clinical performance, taking two wickets each.
Xavier Bartlett chipped in with one wicket as well, restricting RCB to a modest 95/9 in 14 overs, despite a lone fightback from Tim David, who scored a gritty half-century.
Chasing a tricky target on a testing surface, Nehal Wadhera emerged as the hero for Punjab with an unbeaten 33 off 19 balls.
His composed innings guided the team to victory in just 12.1 overs, sealing the chase with five wickets in hand.
After the match, Harpreet Brar praised Wadhera’s temperament and explained the strategy behind electing to bowl first.
“Our coaches instantly knew the surface would help the bowlers once the covers came off,” Brar said during the post-match press conference. “Yuzi [Chahal] bowled brilliantly, and even though it wasn’t easy to bat, Nehal held firm and won it for us. His innings was crucial on a pitch like this.”
Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer echoed Brar’s sentiments, crediting his bowlers for adapting quickly to the unpredictable surface.
“To be honest, we didn’t know how the pitch would behave,” Iyer admitted at the post-match presentation.
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“But the bowlers read it well. Arshdeep mentioned that hard length balls were hard to hit, and that shaped our approach. The execution was spot-on.”
Iyer reserved special praise for Yuzvendra Chahal, who finished with 2 for 11 in 3 overs, calling him the ‘best bowler in the IPL right now’.
He added, “I told him before the match—don’t play safe. Go for wickets. He has the mindset to bounce back, and that’s what we value most in him.”
Reflecting on Wadhera’s journey, Brar highlighted how the 24-year-old batter has matured over the years.
“He’s been around for 2–3 IPL seasons and has consistently performed in the domestic circuit, especially in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy,” said Brar. “He’s always been talented, even during his time with India’s U-19 squad. Watching him finish games at this level is something we seniors feel proud of.”
Brar also emphasized how crucial Wadhera’s quick boundaries were on a pitch where most batters struggled.
“Given the bowling strength in the IPL and the condition of the pitch, this was not an easy game. But Nehal made it look manageable.”
With their confidence high and form peaking, Punjab Kings will face RCB again in the reverse fixture on Sunday at the New PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh.
A win there could further cement their spot in the top half of the IPL 2025 table.
As the tournament progresses, PBKS appears determined to maintain their form and continue their push for a playoff berth.
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