On Friday, April 18, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) hosted the Punjab Kings (PBKS) at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Match No. 34 of the IPL 2025. The Shreyas Iyer-led squad outperformed RCB in the match.
The game became a fourteen-over contest when rain interrupted play. Bengaluru entered an unstable batting situation when they received the opening decision yet lost their opening batters fast. The only home-team savior during the match was Tim David with his unbeaten 50-run performance from 26 balls.
The team captain Rajat Patdiar hit 23 runs off 18 bowling deliveries. Other batters from Punjab only achieved scores above ten runs though two players managed to exceed that mark while the rest of the team faced constant attack. The team ended their innings with 95 runs at 9 wickets after playing 14 overs of the game.
Arsheep Singh, Marco Jansen, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Harpreet Brar each claimed two wickets. PBKS chased down the mark in just 12.1 overs, winning by five wickets.
Nehal Wadhera excelled with the bat for Punjab, finishing undefeated on 33 from 19 balls. Josh Hazlewood was the pick of the bowlers, with figures of 3-0-14-3.
RCB lost their third consecutive home loss this season. They are fourth in the points table, having won four of their seven matches. PBKS, on the other side, secured their fifth win in seven games and is now second in the standings.
Despite RCB’s defeat, David was named ‘Player of the Match’ for his outstanding batting performance. On that point, let’s take a look at three moments during the game that sparked fan interest.
1. Tim David’s Late Blitz Powers RCB to 95 Amid Collapse
Tim David was the only RCB fighter as wickets fell like nine pins from the other end. The swashbuckling hitter led his team to a frenzy of runs in the penultimate over, taking left-arm spinner Harpreet Brar apart.
The over began with three consecutive dot balls. David made atonement by smashing three sixes against Brar. The fourth ball in the over went over the long-on fence for a six.
David followed up with another maximum, this time over deep midwicket. There was no reprieve for Brar, as the batter smashed the next delivery for another six.
To make matters worse for PBKS, his third six came off a no-ball. David capped the inning with a double, bringing RCB’s total to 95.
2. Arshdeep Singh Strikes Early to Dent RCB with Key Wickets
Arshdeep Singh, the PBKS left-arm pacer, began his first over with Phil Salt smacking a boundary down the ground. The bowler responded in spectacular style, removing the dangerous Salt on the fourth ball.
Salt had a good edge, and goalkeeper Jos Inglis did well to catch a skier. Arshdeep rewarded his squad with yet another major breakthrough, returning Virat Kohli in his next over.
Kohli attempted the pull shot but ended up top-edging it. Marco Jansen made an excellent catch at mid-on. Arsdheep finally completed with an excellent record of 3-0-23-2.
3. Nehal Wadhera Takes on Suyash Sharma to Keep PBKS in Control
PBKS batsman Nehal Wadhera looked dangerous in the run chase. The southpaw counter-attacked RCB’s leg spinner Suyash Sharma, putting his team in command.
In the ninth over, Suyash bowled four dots in a row, giving Bengaluru some hope. However, Wadhera made amends by smashing a four and a six on the next two balls.
Wadhera blasted another six and a four in Suyash’s next over to dominate the match against the cunning spinner.
