April 20, 2025, Mullanpur, Punjab –The IPL 2025 season provided more riveting incidents as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) made their mark over Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Match 37 under lights at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, by seven wickets. The encounter between the PBKS vs RCB was very vital for both sides, and victory for RCB backed by the twin fifties from Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal has sorely dented the points table and threatened the very existence of competitors in the playoff for the throne.
PBKS vs RCB: Match Overview
Punjab Kings started the bat first in this top-level encounter. Their openers, Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya, gave a decent start, but RCB’s spinners took charge shortly afterward. Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma picked up two wickets apiece, stopping PBKS’ run-scoring. Though there were some middle-order contributions, the PBKS could manage only 157/6 after their 20 overs.
Chasing 158 runs, Phil Salt was run out in short time when the RCB surged ahead in the match through a partnership between Kohli and Padikkal for 103 runs. Padikkal made 61 off 35 balls, while Kohli played like a lion for 73 not out off 54. The duo eased to victory, with RCB scoring at 159/3 in just 18.5 overs.
PBKS Falter Despite Decent Start
Earlier in the PBKS vs RCB contest, PBKS posted 157/6 in their 20 overs. Though Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya came out defying RCB in their terrific entry, PBKS went to a crawling start just to finish with the worst. Two wickets went to Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma, while Romario Shepherd added one for his tally of three. Punjab Kings had many hiccups in the middle overs due to trying wickets falling at vital junctures.
PBKS vs RCB Match Scorecard
| Team | Score | Top Scorers | Wickets Lost | Overs Played | Result |
| PBKS | 157/6 | Prabhsimran Singh (33), Josh Inglis (29) | 6 | 20.0 | Lost |
| RCB | 159/3 | Virat Kohli (73*), Devdutt Padikkal (61) | 3 | 18.5 | Won by 7 wickets |
RCB’s bowlers held PBKS to a below-per total on the day. In their second innings, cricketers Kohli and Padikkal again stamped their authority with calmness and aggression at the right time.
PBKS vs RCB: Impact on IPL 2025 Points Table
This PBKS vs RCB contest has caused major vibrations on the IPL 2025 points table. With this victory, RCB found themselves in third place, tied on points with Gujarat Titans and Delhi Capitals. Following this loss, PBKS tumbled down to fourth place. All five teams presently stand tied on the net run rate with 10 points, making the playoff race an exciting competition.
IPL 2025 Points Table (After PBKS vs RCB – April 20, 2025)
| Rank | Team | Matches | Won | Lost | Points | NRR |
| 1 | Gujarat Titans | 7 | 5 | 2 | 10 | +0.984 |
| 2 | Delhi Capitals | 7 | 5 | 2 | 10 | +0.589 |
| 3 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 8 | 5 | 3 | 10 | +0.472 |
| 4 | Punjab Kings | 8 | 5 | 3 | 10 | +0.177 |
| 5 | Lucknow Super Giants | 8 | 5 | 3 | 10 | +0.088 |
| 6 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 7 | 3 | 4 | 6 | +0.547 |
| 7 | Mumbai Indians | 7 | 3 | 4 | 6 | +0.239 |
| 8 | Rajasthan Royals | 8 | 2 | 6 | 4 | -0.633 |
| 9 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 7 | 2 | 5 | 4 | -1.217 |
| 10 | Chennai Super Kings | 7 | 2 | 5 | 4 | -1.276 |
Top four teams qualify for playoffs.
PBKS vs RCB: Key Takeaways
- While RCB’s top order held under pressure in this PBKS vs RCB match, the Kohli-Padikkal partnership set the platform for a comfortable chase.
- Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma were instrumental in everything that unfolded with the RCB bowlers, restricting PBKS to a modest score.
- PBKS never capitalized on their start and kept losing wickets at regular intervals while never accelerating during the death overs.
- RCB has now joined the fray up top with this win, thereby rendering all impending clashes with them and other teams significant for playoff qualification.
In the second half of the IPL 2025 season, their competitiveness promises to generate more high-stakes drama. Both teams will remain contenders for the playoffs, and their performance in the remaining matches will be on everyone’s radar.
