In a thrilling encounter at the iconic M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Punjab Kings (PBKS) clinched a sensational victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in a rain-shortened IPL 2025 match, reduced to 14 overs per side. While the bowlers set the stage, it was the young Nehal Wadhera who emerged as the game-changer with an unbeaten 33 off 19 balls, steering PBKS to their third win of the season and inflicting a bitter third home defeat on the Rajat Patidar-led RCB.
The match began with PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer opting to bowl first under overcast skies, a decision that paid dividends as his bowlers wreaked havoc on RCB’s top order. Arshdeep Singh (2/23) struck early, dismissing opener Phil Salt in the very first over, with stumper Josh Inglis completing a sharp catch. The dangerous Virat Kohli followed soon after, caught brilliantly by Marco Jansen off Arshdeep, leaving RCB reeling at 26/3 in the powerplay. Liam Livingstone also perished cheaply, unable to counter the disciplined PBKS attack.
Amidst the collapse, RCB skipper Rajat Patidar (23 off 18) showed glimpses of brilliance, striking a magnificent six over mid-wicket off Xavier Bartlett. However, his stay was cut short by veteran spinner Yuzvendra Chahal (2/11), who marked his return to Chinnaswamy—his former IPL home—with a memorable performance. Chahal, alongside Marco Jansen (2/10) and Harpreet Brar (2/25), dismantled RCB’s middle order, with Jansen’s clever use of short-pitched deliveries accounting for Krunal Pandya and Impact Sub Manoj Bhandage.
Despite the ruins, Tim David, adjudged Player of the Match, provided a late flourish with an unbeaten 50 off 27 balls—his maiden IPL fifty. David’s fireworks, including three consecutive sixes off Brar, propelled RCB to a fighting total of 95/9. However, it was a total that PBKS believed they could chase, given the shortened format and their explosive batting lineup.
The chase, however, was far from straightforward. RCB’s bowlers, led by Josh Hazlewood (3/18) and supported by Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2/21), struck early blows, reducing PBKS to a precarious position. Hazlewood’s fiery spell, which saw him claim two wickets in a single over, had the Chinnaswamy crowd on its feet, sensing a dramatic turnaround. Enter Nehal Wadhera, the 24-year-old left-hander, who turned the game on its head with a breathtaking counterattack.
Wadhera’s unbeaten knock featured three fours and three sixes, with the highlight being his brutal assault on leg-spinner Suyash Sharma, smashing two towering sixes to shift the momentum firmly in PBKS’s favor. Displaying remarkable composure under pressure, Wadhera guided his team over the line, finishing the chase with a match-winning flourish. His heroics not only secured the victory but also swelled PBKS’s points tally to 10, catapulting them to second place on the IPL 2025 leaderboard, just behind table-toppers Delhi Capitals.
This match was a testament to the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket, where fortunes can change in a matter of overs. For RCB, the defeat adds to their woes at home, with questions looming over their batting frailties despite David’s valiant effort. PBKS, on the other hand, will take immense confidence from this win, with both their bowling attack and emerging talents like Wadhera shining bright. As the IPL 2025 season progresses, one thing is clear—matches like these are what make the tournament a global spectacle, and young stars like Nehal Wadhera are ready to write their own chapters in cricket history.