PBKS vs RCB, IPL 2025 Qualifier 1 highlights: Suyash Sharma's three-fers, followed by Phil Salt's unbeaten half-century, help RCB to seal berth in IPL final after nine years

Phil Salt's unbeaten half-century, followed by brilliant bowling performances, helped the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to register a dominating eight-wicket win against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the Qualifier 1 clash of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, Chandigarh. With this win, the Bengaluru-based franchise becomes the first finalist of he 18th edition of the cash-rich league.

After opting to bowl, the Rajat Patidar-led side were off to a good start as they picked up four wickets in the powerplay. The RCB pace trio of Josh Hazlewood (3/21), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1/17) and Yash Dayal (2/26) exploited the conditions well before leg-spinner Suyash Sharma (3/17) made it worse for the opposition.

This is the first time in nine years that the Bengaluru-based franchise has been able to make it to the grand finale of the marquee event. RCB played three finals before in 2009, 2011 and 2016. On the other hand, PBKS were featuring in their first play-off fixture since 2014.

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PBKS' batting collapse began when in-form opener Priyansh Arya was caught at cover off Dayal as he couldn't check his drive. His opening partner, Prabhsimran Singh (18 off 10) followed him back into the dugout in the following over from Bhuvneshwar.

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After smashing two boundaries on the charge, Prabhimsran stepped out for a third swipe but Bhuvneshwar pulled his length back to induce the edge.

Skipper Shreyas Iyer, who has been central to the team’s success this season, went for a wild slog off Hazlewood on his third ball of the innings but was caught behind. The Australian pacer then sent back his countryman Josh Inglis off a rising ball that the former could not control, creating a sense of panic in the dressing room.

The batters continued to go for their shots to hasten Punjab Kings’ slide.

Against leggie Suyash, the likes of Marcus Stoinis (26 off 17) and Shashank Singh went for the slog sweep but could not connect to the googly.

Musheer Khan, making an unexpected IPL debut as an impact player with wickets falling in heaps, too fell to a sweep off Suyash, who got his googly to turn sharply.

While chasing