IPL 2025: Virat Kohli shines as Royal Challengers Bangalore beat Punjab Kings

A brilliant all-round performance by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), led by Virat Kohli’s match-winning half-century, helped them to a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Punjab Kings in the 37th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. The match took place at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

RCB captain Rajat Patidar won the toss and chose to bowl first, a decision that proved effective. The Punjab Kings were restricted to a modest total of 157/6 in their allotted 20 overs. 

Punjab’s openers, Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya, started off well, adding 42 runs before Krunal Pandya made a breakthrough, dismissing both openers in successive overs. This left the Kings at 62/2 in the 7th over. Singh was the top-scorer for Punjab, making 33 runs off 17 balls, including five fours and a six. Arya contributed 22 runs from 15 balls, with three fours and a six.

The Kings' batting woes continued as they lost two more quick wickets — Shreyas Iyer (6) and Nehal Wadhera (5) — to slump to 76/4 by the 9th over. In an attempt to rebuild, Shashank Singh and Josh Inglis tried to steady the innings, adding 36 runs to the total before Inglis was dismissed by Suyash Sharma for 29 off 17 balls.

The Kings suffered another blow in the same over as Marcus Stoinis fell cheaply for just 1 run off 2 balls. Singh, however, found support in Marco Jansen, and the duo managed to add an unbeaten 43-run partnership, lifting the total to 157. Singh finished on 31 not out off 33 balls, while Jansen made 25 not out from 20 balls, hitting two sixes.

For RCB, Pandya and Sharma were the pick of the bowlers, both taking two wickets. Romario Shepherd also chipped in with one wicket.

In response, RCB chased down the target with ease, losing just three wickets in the process. Kohli led the chase with an unbeaten 73 off 54 balls, including seven fours and one six. His composed knock guided RCB home with seven balls to spare. Kohli’s partnership with Devdutt Padikkal, who made a quick-fire 61 off 35 balls (5 fours, 4 sixes), was crucial in building the foundation for the victory. The two added 103 runs for the second wicket.

Kohli’s brilliant innings earned him the Player of the Match award. 

For Punjab Kings, Harpreet Brar, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Arsheep Singh each took one wicket, but it wasn’t enough to stop RCB.

The victory lifted RCB to third place in the IPL 2025 standings with 10 points from 8 matches. Punjab Kings remain on fourth in the table, as RCB continued their push for a top spot in the competition.