PBKS vs RCB Highlights, IPL 2026: Bengaluru seal playoffs berth as Punjab succumb to sixth consecutive loss

That’s it from us in our coverage of the Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru match in Dharamsala. Thank you and good night!

Iyer shared an explosive 65-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Tim David that helped RCB post a match-winning score of 222/4.

Rasikh Salam Dar signs off with match-winning figures of 3/36, dismissing Azmatullah Omarzai in the final ball with the Afghan all-rounder holing out to Tim David at long off and departing for 14 as Punjab Kings manage 199/8 after being set a daunting 223 to win.

Rasikh is entrusted with the final over, and starts with a couple of wides early on, but seals the game in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s favour after getting rid of Shashank, who holes out to Virat Kohli at long on while attempting to drill a full, slower delivery down the ground. PBKS 194/7 in 19.2; target: 223

Hazlewood does well to concede just seven in the penultimate over to sign off with figures of 1/36. Omarzai collects a streaky boundary in the third delivery, getting a thick outside edge that beats short third man. Bethell pulls off an excellent piece of fielding to pull the ball back inside at the edge of the deep midwicket boundary, where he had spilled a catch earlier in the innings, after Shashank smashes the ball in his direction. PBKS 190/6 in 19; target: 223

Azmatullah Omarzai goes inside out over wide long off off a full delivery from Bhuvneshwar, hitting the display car stationed on the other side of the fence with his first boundary. Bhuvneshwar signs off with figures of 2/38, going wicketless for 30 runs in his last two overs. PBKS 183/6 in 18; target: 223

Shashank brings up the milestone – his sixth in the IPL and the first of the ongoing season – with a four off Bhuvneshwar, steering a low full toss towards long on. That’s his second boundary off the the senior Indian pacer, who is into his final over, in three deliveries, with Shashank having steered a short-of-length ball towards the wide third man fence. PBKS 176/6 in 17.4; target: 223

Excellent third over from Hazlewood, in which he fires a couple of yorkers to restrict Shashank and new batter Azmatullah Omarzai to singles. Four leg byes added to Punjab’s score in the final delivery after a missed yorker by the Aussie pacer brushes Shashank’s pad before running away to fine leg. PBKS 167/6 in 17; target: 223

Hazlewood is brought back after the TimeOut and makes an instant impact by getting rid of fellow Aussie Stoinis, who misses a full toss from the pacer and is struck on the pad right in front of leg, with the umpire raising his finger. Stoinis reviews, and the ball is shown to be clipping leg, resulting in ‘Umpire’s Call’. Massive blow to Punjab Kings’ hopes. PBKS 160/6 in 16.1; target: 223

Stand-in captain Jitesh turns to Bhuvneshwar, his most trusted option, in a desperate attempt to break the Stoinis-Shashank stand. After conceding just 8 runs in his first two overs while collecting a couple of wickets, Bhuvi proves expensive in his third over, with Shashank and Stoinis collecting a six and a four respectively, the former clearing long on with a Dhoniesque helicopter shot. Timeout signalled by the umpire at the end of the 16th. It still is RCB’s game to lose. But if PBKS are to snap their losing run today, it’s these two who will have to stay until the very end.

Rasikh’s brought back in the 15th over in an attempt to break the partnership, and the seamer keeps things tidy for a majority of the over by conceding just four runs in as many deliveries. Stoinis, however, ruins the over with back-to-back fours, capitalising on a couple of full tosses that he smashes straight down the ground and towards wide long on. PBKS 146/5 in 15; target: 223

Stoinis went for a wild heave towards deep midwicket in the fourth delivery of Krunal’s third over, hitting it straight to the English all-rounder, who pouches it for a brief second, only for the ball to pop out of his grasp. Shashank collects a couple of boundaries on either side of the dropped chance, cleverly steering a bouncer from the left-arm spinner towards third man in the second delivery. He’s raced to 31 at the end of the over. PBKS 134/5 in 14; target: 223

Shashank Singh is a proven finisher and has won matches for his franchises almost single-handedly before. He’s batting on 2 off 3 at the start of the 13th over and races to 21 off 8 in the blink of an eye, smashing the leg-spinner for three sixes in the space of six deliveries! Clears long on in the first ball which is followed by back-to-back hits over the fence towards the end, targeting the straight boundary and deep backward square leg. Is this the over that begins Punjab’s turnaround? PBKS 122/5 in 13; target: 223

Krunal tosses one up outside off and Stoinis responds by steering it past backward point, bringing up Punjab’s hundred in the process. Nine from Krunal’s second over, with the left-arm spinner also surprising Stoinis with a bouncer at the start of the over. PBKS 102/5 in 12; target: 223

Punjab Kings are under serious pressure after failing to collect a boundary for more than two overs, and Suryansh attempts to break the shackles by smashing Suyash for a six in the penultimate ball of the 11th over. The Mumbaikar, however, hits the ball straight to Virat Kohli, who isn’t one to let go of such opportunities. PBKS 93/5 in 10.5; target: 223

Krunal Pandya is introduced after the timeout and concedes six singles in his first over. Punjab Kings need another 137 to win from 60 balls, and Shedge – who’s batting on 32 off 19 – will have to deliver a few big overs for his team if Shreyas Iyer and Co are to snap their five-game losing streak today.

Stoinis opens his account with a brace in his first delivery and helps himself to his first boundary two balls later, steering a back-of-length delivery behind square for a four, ruining what was turning out to be a terrific first over from Shepherd. Shedge, meanwhile, helps himself to his second maximum in the following over, bowled by Suyash. Gets down on one knee and slog-sweeping the ball towards deep midwicket in the third delivery. 12 conceded by Suyash in his second over. The umpire signals timeout at the end of the ninth over. PBKS 80/4 in 9; need 143 off 66

Romario Shepherd makes an instant impact after being introduced in the eighth over, getting rid of the Western Australian southpaw who was beginning to rekindle Punjab Kings’ hopes. Connolly flicks a full delivery from the West Indian all-rounder hoping to collect his fourth maximum, but fails to clear the fence, resulting in a simple catch for Jacob Bethell at the edge of the boundary cushion. PBKS 62/4 in 7.3; target: 223

Spin introduced after the powerplay as leg-spinner Suyash Sharma replaces Hazlewood. Connolly and Shedge collect a single in each of the first four deliveries before the former stays on the back-foot and pulls a slightly short ball over deep midwicket. Connolly keeps the strike with a single in the final delivery. 11 from the over. PBKS 60/3 in 7; target: 223

Rasikh concedes 11 in his second over, and this time it’s Connolly who causes some damage with a four and a six. The Western Australian picks a slower delivery in the second ball, and sends it racing down the ground all the way to the fence. Gets a thick top-edge off a short delivery three balls later, with the ball landing on the other side of the fine leg fence. PBKS need another 174 to win from 60 with seven wickets in hand, and the current partnership will be crucial if the Kings are to make a comeback and chase 223 down in Dharamsala.

The senior Australian quick is brought back in the penultimate over of the powerplay, and starts with a single to Connolly followed by a wide. Shedge continues to attack regardless of the bowler steaming in from the other end, smashing the ‘Bendemeer Bullet’ for a six in the second ball by launching the ball into the stands beyond midwicket. He then helps himself to a four three balls later, getting a top-edged off a short ball that flies over the keeper and all the way to the third man fence. A few more of these overs might just bring the Punjab Kings back into the contest. PBKS 38/3 in 5; target: 223

Shedge joins Connolly at the centre with Punjab Kings in dire straits, and takes four deliveries to open his account. But does so with a boundary, cutting a short, wide delivery from Rasikh through point for a four, preventing the seamer from starting his spell with a wicket maiden. PBKS 23/3 in 4; target: 223

Rasikh Salam Dar is brought in as an Impact Sub in place of Devdutt Padikkal and is introduced in the fourth over. The seamer takes just two balls to make an impact, with the PBKS captain nicking a short-of-length ball to the keeper. Unless Connolly is able to deliver a knock for the ages from here, Punjab Kings are well on their way towards a sixth consecutive defeat. PBKS 19/3 in 3.2; target: 223

Bhuvi gets rid of the other Punjab Kings opener in his second over as Prabhsimran Singh (2 off 5) is caught by Devdutt Padikkal at slip while attempting to slash a short-of-length ball outside off. PBKS 18/2 in 2.5; target: 223

Connolly opens his account with a boundary first ball, driving an inswinging delivery from Bhuvneshwar down the ground with a Romario misfield allowing the ball to run all the way to the fence. Josh Hazlewood starts his spell on an expensive note next up, getting hit for a four and a six by his compatriot in a space of three deliveries. Cooper cuts a short-of-length ball behind point in the third delivery before lofting a fuller delivery over long on for a maximum. RCB 16/1 in 2; target: 223

Priyansh Arya departs for a three-ball duck after tamely chipping the ball straight to Romario Shepherd at mid on! Bhuvi with another early strike! PBKS 1/1 in 0.3

The PBKS openers had laid the foundation for their record-breaking chase in Delhi and will have to pull off something similar today if they are to snap Punjab’s five-game losing streak. Bhuvneshwar Kumar to bowl the first over.

Shreyas Iyer’s men have lost their last five matches on the trot and will have to pull off the highest successful chase in Dharamsala if they are to avoid jeopardising their playoff chances – which they would have taken for granted at the halfway stage of the tournament.

Arshdeep bowls the final over, a couple of singles and a wide in the first three deliveries.

Tim David hammered a six in the fourth delivery! Arshdeep missed the yorker, and the batter hammered the ball over deep mid-wicket. He then smashed a boundary over the bowler’s head, and there’s a bounce as it crossed the ropes.

Arshdeep wraps up the first innings after dismissing Tim David, with Harpreet Brar completing the catch. David reviews for height, and the ball is clearly below.

RCB score 222, setting up a 223-run target for PBKS.

Marcus Stoinis is on the field for Punjab as their impact sub, replacing Yuzvendra Chahal. Omarzai bowls the penultimate over. Bengaluru kept the runs coming by running between wickets.

Tim David cracked a four in the final delivery of the over with immense power. Strong intent from the batter dight there.