Mullanpur, May 29: Royal Challengers Bengaluru stormed into the Indian Premier League final for the first time in eight years with a resounding eight-wicket win over Punjab Kings in Qualifier 1 on Thursday. RCB will now face the winner of Qualifier 2 in the title clash set for June 3 in Ahmedabad.
Punjab, playing their first play-off since 2014, imploded for just 101 in 14.1 overs, with their high-risk batting strategy backfiring under pressure. RCB chased down the modest target in just 10 overs, powered by a blistering unbeaten 56 off 27 balls from opener Phil Salt.
“It was a near-perfect game for us,” RCB captain Rajat Patidar said after sealing the emphatic win with a six over midwicket off Musheer Khan.
Despite the loss, Punjab Kings will get a second chance to reach the final when they play in Qualifier 2 on June 1 in Ahmedabad.
After being put in to bat, Punjab’s ultra-aggressive approach quickly unraveled. In-form opener Priyansh Arya was dismissed early, failing to keep a drive down off Yash Dayal. His partner, Prabhsimran Singh (18), was undone by Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s change of length after hitting two boundaries.
Skipper Shreyas Iyer, who had anchored several wins this season, fell to a wild slog on his third delivery, edging Josh Hazlewood behind. Hazlewood (3/21) then removed Josh Inglis with a steep bouncer, further rattling the Punjab lineup.
Leg-spinner Suyash Sharma (3/17) compounded Punjab’s woes as Marcus Stoinis and Shashank Singh both failed to pick his googly while attempting slog sweeps. Debutant Musheer Khan also fell in similar fashion, sweeping against the turn.
“It’s disappointing, no doubt. But we’ve lost the battle, not the war,” said Iyer, reflecting on the heavy defeat.
The only bright moment for the home crowd came when Kyle Jamieson bowled a stellar wicket-maiden, dismissing Virat Kohli for 12. He followed it up with a probing over that left Mayank Agarwal clueless.
Salt, however, was unfazed. The English opener dominated proceedings with six fours and three sixes, one of which was a fierce pull off Arshdeep Singh. His aggressive yet composed innings made it seem like he was batting on an entirely different surface.
RCB’s clinical all-round performance showcased their title intent. Having previously fallen short in the finals of 2009, 2011, and 2016, they now stand just one win away from lifting their maiden IPL trophy.
