IPL 2026: RCB seal playoffs berth as PBKS crash to sixth straight defeat

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) became the first team to qualify for the Indian Premier League 2026 (IPL 2026) playoffs with a 23-run win over Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Sunday, May 17, at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala.

After being put in to bat first, RCB posted a massive score of 222/4 in their allotted 20 overs, riding on half-centuries from Venkatesh Iyer and Virat Kohli (58 off 37). Devdutt Padikkal also made a valuable contribution of 45 (25) to guide RCB past 220.

In reply, PBKS were restricted to 199/8 in their 20 overs, with Shashank Singh (56 off 27) being the lone half centurion. For RCB, Rasikh Salam Dar was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2/38) also chipped in with two wickets.

Earlier in the day, batting first, RCB lost Jacob Bethell (11 off 7) cheaply, who lost his stumps against Harpreet Brar. After the early blow, Devdutt Padikkal and Virat Kohli stabilised the innings with their 76-run stand off 41 balls for the second wicket. Brar (2/35) once again came to Punjab’s rescue, getting Padikkal holed out at cover. 

However, Kohli continued his rich form and brought up his half-century off 31 balls. He got involved in another brilliant stand of 60 runs for the third wicket off 35 balls with Venkatesh Iyer. Following Kohli’s departure, Iyer pressed on the accelerator and brought up his fifty off 29 balls.

He added another 65 runs off 30 balls with Tim David (28 off 12) to help RCB get off to a perfect finish. In reply, Punjab were rocked inside the powerplay as Priyansh Arya (0 off 3), Prabhsimran Singh (2 off 5) and Shreyas Iyer (1 off 3) all departed cheaply, leaving their team reeling at 19/3 in 3.2 overs.

After the early blows, Cooper Connolly (37 off 22) and Suryansh Shedge (35 off 22) tried to rebuild the innings. The duo eventually succumbed to the scoreboard pressure. With PBKS reeling at 93/5 after 10.5 overs, Marcus Stoinis (37 off 25) and Shashank Singh reignited Punjab’s hopes with a 67-run partnership off 32 balls for the sixth wicket.

After Stoinis' dismissal in the 17th over, PBKS lost their way in the run chase and eventually fell 24 runs short of their target. As a result, PBKS suffered their sixth successive loss, maintaining fourth spot on the IPL 2026 points table with 13 points. On the other hand, RCB solidified their position at the top with 18 points from 13 matches.

Top run-scorer of the Match

Top wicket-taker of the Match

Player of the Match

Venkatesh Iyer was adjudged Player of the Match for his breathtaking innings of 73* (40), studded with eight fours and four sixes. He stitched crucial partnerships with Virat Kohli and Tim David to guide his team to a massive score.

Turning Point

PBKS were in the hunt till the 16^th over, needing 63 runs to win off the last 24 balls. However, Josh Hazlewood dismissed Marcus Stoinis lbw on the first ball of the 17^th over to turn the tide in his team’s favour. 

What did the captains say:

Winning Captain, Jitesh Sharma (Royal Challengers Bengaluru):

(on whether the chase got tricky at any stage) No, I think we were all in control. In the batting and the bowling, we were in control. (on the mood in the team at the halfway stage with 222 on the board) We were not under pressure, frankly speaking. We were in control. We know what we want to do on this wicket because we batted on that and the batters had given very good feedback on what was working on that wicket. So we planned particularly for particular batsmen and we were executing that properly. (on his contribution as captain) No, it’s okay, it’s fine. It’s part of my job. Whatever my management has given, I have to do and give my hundred percent, that’s it. (on having experienced bowlers in the side while captaining and keeping wickets) We are privileged that they are playing for RCB and with that I got so many senior players to guide me in the centre when I’m doing captaincy to those bowlers. I think that’s great. It’s a great experience to play with those boys. (on captaining against RCB previously and now leading them) Yes, obviously. (on the next game and Rajat Patidar’s return) My actual skipper is doing really well. He’s going to captain next game. I think our RCB motto is very simple - one game at a time. That’s the thing. We are not thinking ahead or anything. We just want to play our best cricket in every match, that’s it.

Losing Captain, Shreyas Iyer (Punjab Kings):

(on where the game started to unravel) Obviously, they got off to a great start and then started taking on the bowlers right after the powerplay. I think getting to 222 was a commendable performance and we weren’t able to take wickets in the bowling that much, but yeah, I think the match was lost in the powerplay. (on the difficult chase after losing early wickets) Absolutely. We were three down and the majority of our run scorers were Prabhsimran and Priyansh. The starts they used to give us in the powerplay, obviously we couldn’t get this time and also me coming in and getting out early. Really disappointed, but commendable performance by Shashank and Stoinis and also a few others in the middle. I think we were up there with almost 10 an over, but yeah, fell short. Tremendous bowling by Bhuvi and Hazlewood. (on staying positive ahead of the next game against Lucknow) No, definitely. I’m always positive irrespective of the results. It doesn’t dictate how my personality is and I always approach with a strong attitude. I’m not someone who dwells too much in the past. This is over, this is gone. Tomorrow again I’m going to see the sunrise and there’s always light at the end of the tunnel.