RCB Crushes PBKS in Mullanpur: A Night Punjab Will Want to Forget
After winning the match against PBKS, Virat said, “One More To Go.” In Mullanpur, cricket fans witnessed a shocking and dramatic night as Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) completely outplayed Punjab Kings (PBKS) in one of the most intense matches of the season. The main reason for the collapse of the Punjab Kings was their batting style. All of the batsmen were eager to go inside the dressing room and have some rest. They played non-sensical shots and got themselves out, but helped RCB reach the final.
When you lose 4 wickets in power play, you have to play a little sensibly, which was missing in the Punjab players. Even the captain, Shreyas Iyer, played a shot that he would not normally play.
It was a night full of twists, emotions, and fierce competition — one that Ricky Ponting, PBKS’s head coach, and his team might want to erase from memory.
The night belonged to RCB from the very beginning. As soon as the game started, Ricky Ponting looked tense and helpless outside the dugout. His usual energy and sharpness were missing as he watched Virat Kohli lead his RCB side with precision and passion.
Later, after PBKS lost more wickets and the match was slipping away, Ponting walked onto the field during the timeout and simply gave a gentle pat to two of his bowlers—Kyle Jamieson and Musheer Khan—who had tried their best. That simple gesture said it all: defeat had sunk in.
The match conditions were tricky. Out of the four matches played at the venue before this one, teams batting first had won three times. The pitch was helping fast bowlers, especially with the new ball swinging and seaming.
Josh Hazlewood, RCB’s star pacer, said, “The pitch was perfect for bowling first. There was a swing and a seam the entire match. The key was to use the new ball wisely. If PBKS had aimed for a target around 150 or 160, it might’ve been difficult for us.”
But Punjab didn’t slow down. Instead of adjusting their game plan, they charged ahead recklessly—and paid the price.
Punjab’s troubles began in the second over when Priyansh Arya got out early. Then came Prabhsimran Singh, who tried to attack RCB’s bowlers right away. He hit two great shots over mid-off and mid-on. But the third ball he faced edged and flew to the wicketkeeper, Jitesh Sharma. Virat Kohli, standing at first slip, celebrated with fire in his eyes.
The RCB bowlers were sharp, and their fielders were alert. The team energy was intense. Even before PBKS could find their rhythm, RCB had taken control.
RCB was under pressure even before the match. They had just arrived from another tough game and were worried about Josh Hazlewood’s fitness. He had been recovering from a shoulder injury for over a month and had missed many games.
But Hazlewood came back like a champion. His bowling was accurate, and he struck early. Shreyas Iyer tried to go after him carelessly and paid the price. Hazlewood proved why he is one of the most feared bowlers in PowerPlay overs.
The PBKS batters had no space or time to build their innings. RCB’s aggressive field placements and non-stop chatter on the field created pressure. Kohli himself was everywhere—diving to stop runs, shouting encouragement, and upsetting the Punjab batters’ focus.
Young spinner Suyash Sharma also played a huge role. His googlies were unreadable, and the batters kept misjudging the ball. Both Marcus Stoinis and Shashank Singh were out playing the wrong shots.
It wasn’t until the ninth-wicket partnership between Azmatullah Omarzai and Harpreet Brar that PBKS had a stand that lasted more than 11 balls.
This pitch was not easy for batters. But unlike a previous game where PBKS lost by 111 runs but still defended the score, this time there was no miracle. RCB used every bit of help from the pitch and kept attacking without mercy.
The final nail came quickly. Rajat Patidar smashed a six to end the match, wrapping up the torture in just two and a half hours.
As the match ended, Virat Kohli raised his finger and pointed toward the PBKS dugout—perhaps as a symbolic reminder that RCB had done their job and crushed the competition. It was a bold, emotional moment from a man who lives for high-pressure cricket.
Now, RCB stands just one more victory away from reaching their long-awaited glory. For PBKS, it’s back to the drawing board.
