RCB Storm Into IPL 2026 Playoffs With 23-Run Win Over PBKS

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) became the first team in the IPL 2026 to qualify for the playoffs after defeating Punjab Kings (PBKS) by 23 runs in a run fest at the HPCA Stadium here on Sunday.

The Shreyas Iyer-led PBKS suffered their sixth consecutive defeat when they failed to chase a 223-run target after a poor outing from the top-order batters.

Chasing the big target, PBKS started with the explosive batting duo of Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar provided the first breakthrough for his side in the first over when Arya gave a catch to Romario Shepherd and went back to the pavilion without making any runs.

Bhuvneshwar struck again in his next over when the in-form Prabshimran lost his wicket. He made just two runs. Captain Iyer couldn't stay for long as well and gave his wicket to Rasikh Salam Dar.

Suryansh Shedge added 43 runs for the fourth wicket with Cooper Connolly before Shepherd broke the partnership in the eighth over.

Marcus Stoinis joined Shedge after that and added a quick 31 off 20 balls, where Shedge played the role of the aggressor.

Shedge made 35 off 22 balls with the help of a couple of sixes and as many fours before Suyash Sharma dismissed him in the 11th over.

Shashank Singh joined Stoinis at the crease after that, and the duo added a quick 67 off just 32 balls. Shashank contributed 42 runs in that partnership.

Stoinis lost his wicket in the 17th over when Josh Hazlewood trapped him in front of the wickets. He made 37 runs with the help of five boundaries.

Azmatullah Omarzai came to the crease, and Shashank changed batting gears. The duo collected 16 runs from the 18th over, where Shashank hit a couple of fours, and Azmat hit a big six over covers.

With 40 runs needed in the last two overs, Hazlewood came to bowl the penultimate over. He conceded just seven runs, which left 33 runs to defend in the final over.

Rasikh started the final over with a wide, but successfully defended the runs and also took a couple of wickets. RCB won the match by 23 runs and qualified for the playoffs with 18 points.

Earlier, the explosive half-centuries from Virat Kohli and Venkatesh Iyer powered RCB to a massive 222/4.

While Kohli scripted history with his record-extending ninth 500-plus IPL season, Venkatesh's unbeaten 73 ensured the defending champions posted a daunting total.

"Technically it’s my second game being part of the playing XI and today’s the first time I properly got to bat. So that’s the more pleasing thing than getting a Man of the Match. And also the two points, so really happy," said Venkatesh Iyer after being awared the Player of the Match on Sunday.