Punjab Kings (PBKS) huffed and puffed their way to 157/6 after Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) won the toss and opted to bowl first in Match 37 of at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur on Sunday, April 20.
Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya got their team off to a blazing start as they amassed a 42-run opening stand off just 26 balls. However, Krunal Pandya was introduced into the attack in the fifth over, and he didn't take too long to turn the game on its head.
The Baroda all-rounder dismissed the two openers in consecutive overs, and PBKS made 62 inside the first seven overs. Shreyas Iyer was dismissed by an excellent catch from Krunal in the eighth over. The following over saw Nehal Wadhera getting run out after an unfortunate miscommunication with Josh Inglis.
The Australian wicketkeeper-batter tried to resurrect the innings with Shashank Singh for company. Inglis played some glorious ramp shots to keep the scoreboard ticking. However, Suyash Sharma struck twice in the 14th over, sending Inglis as well as Marcus Stoinis packing.
At 114/6 in the 14th over, PBKS were staring down the barrel. RCB's fielding was sensational as every player looked hungry for a win. Shashank Singh and Marco Jansen curbed their natural instincts and formed an unbeaten 43-run partnership off 37 balls amid some remarkable bowling from Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the death overs.
It was a commendable effort from RCB, both with the bat and in the field. Yes, the pitch was helpful for pacers and spinners alike, but the PBKS batters' lack of application made their work easier. Shashank and Jansen finished on 31* and 25*, respectively.
We can chase this donw: KrunalAt the mid-innings break, Krunal, who finished with figures of 2/25 in his 20 overs, lauded his team for restricting the opposition to 157. The all-rounder mentioned that RCB will have to bat well in the powerplay in order to chase the target successfully.
"Pretty good effort. The way they started in powerplay, they put us under pressure. From that position, to restrict them to 157 was a great effort. What I realised when the fast bowlers bowled, pace-on deliveries were much easier to face. I realised on this wicket, the slower you bowl, it's difficult for batters. We have to bat really well. Powerplay becomes crucial. If we bat to our potential, we can chase this down," Krunal said post the first innings.
Meanwhile, here are the funniest mid-innings memes from PBKS vs RCB, Match 37 of IPL 2025:2 wickets, 1 sharp catch pic.twitter.com/drvn3skaKP
— Out Of Context Cricket (@GemsOfCricket) April 20, 2025
Preity Zinta couldnt believe that Suyash sharma cleaned up Stoinis and Inglis in just 4 balls pic.twitter.com/YC6WNPnfqn
— Pari (@BluntIndianGal) April 20, 2025
It don't matter if you're black or white
— Shikhar Sagar (@crazy__shikhu) April 20, 2025
Ooh.....#RCBvsPBKS pic.twitter.com/W94VuNUPqr
RCB team as soon as they enter Chinnaswamy stadium pic.twitter.com/Pbz5ub5mWM
— Pakchikpak Raja Babu (@HaramiParindey) April 20, 2025
Nothing just Virat Kohli and his celebrations😭 pic.twitter.com/yUswLF6ZLd
— Pari (@BluntIndianGal) April 20, 2025
How Kohli celebrates wickets 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/FBiqjBHMzv
— Aditi. (@Sassy_Soul_) April 20, 2025
Mere Virat ko haraya tha na pichli baar#RCBvsPBKS pic.twitter.com/tlXkLHgaat
— Shikhar Sagar (@crazy__shikhu) April 20, 2025
Mujhe over doge to aise hi plant lagte rahenge pic.twitter.com/RYO4TD9YZ8
— memes_hallabol (@memes_hallabol) April 20, 2025
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