PBKS vs RCB

Tharoor vs Congress: Surgical Strike Statement Controversy

RCB will win IPL 2025 and Virat Kohli will be Player of the Match: Shane Watson

Danijones3 days ago04 mins

Legendary Australia cricketer Shane Watson has backed Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to win Indian Premier League 2025 (IPL 2025) and Virat Kohli to win Player of the Match. RCB finished the league stage of the tournament on second position with nine wins from 14 matches, having 19 points to their name. It was the first time that the Bengaluru-based franchise finished in top two after nine years. As a result, they have a golden chance to win the tournament and end their 18-year drought of an IPL trophy. Shane Watson has also backed RCB to win the trophy and Virat Kohli to win the Player of the Match award in the final. He also mentioned how the return of Josh Hazlewood for the playoffs is a major boost for the side. “The winner of IPL 2025, and I’ve been thinking long and hard about it, is RCB. And the Man of the Match for me is Virat Kohli, the great man. And here’s the reason why. I just get a feeling that this is the time for RCB. They have had a few blips in the back end of the tournament, but with Josh Hazlewood coming back for the Playoffs, I get a feeling this is the year,” Watson said in a video shared on his X handle. Back in 2016, during the final of the IPL played between RCB and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Watson didn’t have a memorable game. He first leaked 61 runs in four overs and later got dismissed for 11 (9) as RCB lost the match by eight runs. The Australian all-rounder has apologised to RCB fans time and again for his dismal show in the final which deprived them of their maiden title victory. Meanwhile, Hazlewood missed the last two games for RCB as he was nursing a shoulder issue and returned late from Australia. However, his return just ahead of the playoffs has provided a major boost for Bengaluru. The Rajat Patidar-led side will hope that the Australian seamer continues his rich form in the season and finally ends their title drought. Stay updated on IPL 2025 with India Today! Get match schedules, team squads, live score, and the latest IPL points table for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, SRH, LSG, DC, GT, PBKS, and RR. Plus, keep track of the top contenders for the IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap. Don’t miss a moment! Published By: Rishabh Beniwal Published On: May 29, 2025

Virat Kohli, spinners shine as Bengaluru eliminate Punjab Kings from playoff race – India TV

Danijones1 year ago1 year ago05 mins

BCCI/IPL Virat Kohli and Jonny Bairstow in the PBKS vs RCB IPL 2024 match on May 9, 2024 Royal Challengers Benagluru registered a dominant 60-run win over Punjab Kings to continue their resurgence in the IPL 2024 on Thursday. A win boosted Bengaluru’s chances of making the playoff significantly but Punjab Kings became the second team after Mumbai Indians to suffer an early elimination. Virat Kohli produced a memorable knock by smashing 92 runs off just 47 balls as Bengaluru posted a 241/7, their third-highest total in IPL, while batting first at Dharamsala’s HPCA Stadium. Then spinners Karn Sharma and Swapnil Singh claimed early wickets to bowl out Punjab to an 181 total in 17 overs. Both teams needed two points to remain in contention for the playoff qualification. Punjab recalled Liam Livingstone in the place of the South African pacer Kagiso Rabada while the speedster Lockie Ferguson replaced Glenn Maxwell for Bengaluru. After being forced out to bat first, in-form Virat Kohli continued his red-hot form with an aggressive approach from the beginning. Bengaluru lost skipper Faf du Plessis and batting all-rounder Will Jacks early in the powerplay but Kohli kept the runs flowing a stunning batting. Kohli and Rajat Patidar added 76 runs for the third wicket with the latter recording his fourth fifty of the season in just 21 balls. Kohli also introduced his sixth fifty in the IPL 2024 in 32 balls but missed out on his century by just eight runs. He top-scored with 92 runs off just 47 balls with the help of seven fours and six sixes to display his remarkable big-hitting skills again. Cameron Green contributed with 46 runs and Dinesh Karthik played a quick cameo as Bengaluru posted a huge total in a must-win game. Harshal Patel took three wickets for 47 and the debutant pacer Vidwath Kaverappa picked two for Punjab Kings. Chasing a record tough target, Punjab Kings lost opener Prabhsimran Singh in the very first over off Swapnil Singh’s delivery. Rilee Rossouw and Jonny Bairstow then quickly added 65 runs for the second wicket to keep Punjab alive in the chase. Rossouw produced his first fifty of the season in just 21 balls but was dismissed by Karn Sharma after scoring 61 off 27 balls. Punjab lost both settled Rossouw and Bairstow in quick succession to spin and then were never able to make a comeback. Shashank Singh scored 37 runs off 19 balls to show some fight in the middle over but didn’t get much support from his teammates. Mohammed Siraj made a late impact with three wickets to bowl out Punjab Kings to 181 in 17 overs. Virat Kohli bagged the Player of the Match award for his memorable knock. Royal Challengers Bengaluru Playing XI: Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis (c), Will Jacks, Rajat Patidar, Mahipal Lomror, Cameron Green, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Swapnil Singh, Karn Sharma, Mohammed Siraj, Lockie Ferguson. Punjab Kings Playing XI: Jonny Bairstow (wk), Prabhsimran Singh, Rilee Rossouw, Liam Livingstone, Shashank Singh, Sam Curran (c), Ashutosh Sharma, Harshal Patel, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh, Vidhwath Kaverappa.