Royal Challengers Bengaluru became the first side to confirm a place in the IPL 2026 playoffs after a commanding 23 run victory over Punjab Kings in Dharamsala. While Bengaluru celebrated another clinical display, Punjab’s season continued to unravel with a sixth straight defeat that now leaves their qualification hopes hanging by a thread.
Punjab had once looked certain to secure a top two finish, but their dramatic slump has changed the picture completely. With only one league game left, the pressure is firmly on Ricky Ponting’s side.
RCB controlled the contest almost throughout the evening after piling up a massive 222 for 4. The star of the innings was Venkatesh Iyer, who grabbed his opportunity in the starting eleven with a brilliant unbeaten 73 from just 40 deliveries. Promoted to bat in the top order for the first time this season, the left hander shifted gears beautifully after a slow beginning and finished with authority in the final overs.
Virat Kohli continued his remarkable consistency with 57 off 37 balls, reaching the 500 run mark in an IPL season for a record ninth occasion. Devdutt Padikkal also played an aggressive hand, smashing 45 from 25 balls to keep the scoreboard racing during the middle phase.
Punjab’s bowlers struggled once again, with the franchise conceding a total above 200 for the ninth time this season. Tim David added more late damage with a quickfire 28 from 12 deliveries.
The chase never truly recovered after a disastrous beginning. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Rasikh Salam ripped through the top order, reducing Punjab to 19 for 3 inside four overs. Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh and captain Shreyas Iyer all departed cheaply as panic spread through the batting lineup.
Marcus Stoinis and Suryansh Shedge attempted to counterattack, but the required scoring rate kept climbing rapidly. Later, Shashank Singh produced a fighting 56 from 27 balls, including several towering sixes, yet the target had already drifted too far away.
Hazlewood and Rasikh returned strongly at the death to close out the contest as Punjab finished on 199 for 8. The defeat leaves PBKS stuck on 13 points after 13 matches, a staggering fall considering they had reached the same tally after only seven games earlier in the tournament.
