IPL 2025 Qualifier 1: RCB’s Ruthless Bowling Dismantles PBKS in Mullanpur Massacre
In a display of sheer dominance, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) tore through Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the IPL 2025 Qualifier 1 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur. What unfolded over 85 minutes of relentless cricket left the Punjab players shell-shocked, their faces on the big screen reflecting utter disbelief and dejection as RCB’s bowlers hunted them down like a pack of wolves.
After winning the toss and opting to bowl first, RCB unleashed a bowling masterclass, skittling PBKS for a measly 101 runs in just 14.1 overs—marking the shortest batting innings in IPL playoff history. This surpassed the previous low of 16.1 overs by Delhi Capitals against Rajasthan Royals in the 2008 IPL semifinal. Every RCB bowler contributed to the carnage, showcasing precision, aggression, and clinical execution.
Leading the attack was Josh Hazlewood, back from an injury layoff, who claimed 3/21 with the scalps of Shreyas Iyer, Josh Inglis, and Azmatullah Omarzai. Leg-spinner Suyash Sharma spun a web with 3/17, dismissing Shashank Singh, impact substitute Musheer Khan (for a duck), and the dangerous Marcus Stoinis, who top-scored for PBKS with a 17-ball 26. Yash Dayal (2/26), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1/17), and Romario Shepherd (1/5) rounded off a near-perfect bowling display, with Shepherd’s off-stump-shattering delivery to Harpreet Brar epitomizing PBKS’s nightmare.
PBKS, however, must shoulder much of the blame for their downfall. Soft dismissals and reckless shot-making plagued their innings from the start. Opener Priyansh Arya, known for punishing deliveries outside off, faltered early by playing away from his body to a bouncing ball, offering a simple catch to Krunal Pandya at cover. Prabhsimran Singh and Shreyas Iyer followed with identical miscued hoicks, both caught by keeper Jitesh Sharma. Only Prabhsimran Singh (19), Marcus Stoinis (26), and Azmatullah Omarzai (13) managed double-digit scores as the rest crumbled under pressure.
Chasing a modest 102, RCB raced to victory in just 10 overs, finishing with 8 wickets in hand. Opener Phil Salt blazed his way to a match-defining 56 off 27 balls, tearing into the PBKS bowling attack with ferocious intent. A brief moment of hope for Punjab came when Kyle Jamieson dismissed the talismanic Virat Kohli—reminiscent of his dismissal in the inaugural World Test Championship final in 2021 at Southampton—with extra bounce inducing an edge to keeper Josh Inglis. However, it did little to halt RCB’s momentum as Salt, supported by skipper Rajat Patidar, sealed the win with a towering six.
PBKS’s bowlers, led by Arshdeep Singh, struggled to contain the onslaught, with Arshdeep leaking 24 runs in his first two overs. The defeat leaves Punjab with a chance for redemption in Qualifier 2, where they will face the winner of the clash between Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians. Meanwhile, RCB, with this commanding performance, have booked their spot in the IPL 2025 Final on June 3, poised to end their long wait for the coveted trophy.
As the dust settles on this one-sided encounter, one thing is clear: RCB’s bowlers have sent a chilling message to their rivals—they are here to dominate. Can they carry this momentum into the final, or will Punjab find a way to bounce back? Cricket fans across the globe await the next chapter in this thrilling IPL saga.