Punjab Kings clinch Victory Over RCB After Dismal Batting Performance
royal Challengers bengaluru (RCB) suffered a five-wicket defeat against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in their IPL 2025 match Friday, marred by a lackluster batting display at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium. After being put in to bat, RCB struggled to reach 95 for 9 in a rain-shortened 14-over innings.
Tim David’s Heroics in Vain as RCB’s Top Order Collapses
Tim David’s unbeaten 50 off 26 balls and Rajat Patidar’s 23 were the only notable contributions, as the rest of the RCB batting lineup failed to reach double digits. Their aggressive approach backfired on a challenging pitch, resulting in a total PBKS successfully chased down.
Kohli’s Shot Selection Under Scrutiny
Even the experienced Virat Kohli fell victim to the conditions, prompting criticism from former India player Mohammad kaif.Kaif noted Kohli’s attempt to hit a six early in his innings, a shot he wouldn’t typically play in a longer format.”That was a ball meant to be punched through point,” Kaif observed, suggesting Kohli was tempted into a more attacking approach due to the reduced number of overs.
Kaif: RCB Batters Misread the Conditions
Kaif stressed the importance of assessing the conditions, particularly the damp pitch and slow bounce. He believed that Kohli, along with other RCB batters, should have taken more time to adjust before attempting aggressive shots, adding, “Not only Kohli, but the other batters as well. So, he should have spent some time in the middle, 14 overs is a lot, he must have thought it was a six-over game.”
PBKS Bowlers Dominate to Secure Victory
PBKS’s disciplined bowling attack played a crucial role in their victory, restricting RCB to a manageable total.Despite some early jitters in their chase, Punjab Kings reached 98 for 5 in 12.1 overs, securing the win and further delaying RCB’s pursuit of their first home victory this season. David’s contribution accounted for over half of RCB’s total after rain delayed the start to 9:45 pm.
(With inputs from PTI)
What was the impact of the rain delay on the match, beyond just shortening the innings?
Punjab Kings clinch Victory Over RCB After Dismal Batting Performance: Q&A
Q: Why was the match between RCB and PBKS shortened?
A: The match was shortened to a 14-over innings due to rain at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium,delaying the start.
Q: What was RCB’s final score and how did they perform with the bat?
A: RCB scored 95 for 9 in thier 14 overs, with a very poor batting performance. Only Tim David (50*) and Rajat Patidar (23) made notable contributions. The rest of the RCB batting lineup failed to reach double digits.
Q: Who were the key performers for RCB?
A: Tim David was the standout performer for RCB, scoring an unbeaten 50. Rajat Patidar also contributed with 23 runs.
Q: What did Mohammad Kaif say about Virat Kohli’s batting?
A: Mohammad Kaif criticized Virat Kohli’s shot selection, suggesting he attempted an aggressive shot (a six) too early in his innings given the conditions. Kaif believed he should have played a more cautious approach given the pitch conditions.
Q: What was the main issue for RCB’s batting failure,according to Kaif?
A: Kaif believed RCB batters misread the conditions,particularly the damp pitch and slow bounce. He suggested they should have taken more time to adjust before attempting aggressive shots.
Q: How did PBKS win the match, and what was their final score?
A: PBKS won by restricting RCB to a low score with disciplined bowling and then chasing down the target. They reached 98 for 5 in 12.1 overs.
Q: Besides David’s heroics, what else was notable about the match?
A: the win delayed RCB’s pursuit of their first home victory this season.
The Punjab Kings’ disciplined performance and the RCB’s batting struggles made for a compelling, rain-shortened match. Stay tuned for more updates on IPL 2025!
