Match overview
Royal Challengers Bangalore beat Punjab Kings by 8 wickets at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur on 29 May 2025. Punjab Kings were dismissed for 101, losing 4 wickets in the powerplay alone and then shedding the remaining 6 in the middle overs. Royal Challengers Bangalore's reply was equally one-sided: 61 runs from the powerplay with only 1 wicket down, and 45 more from overs 7 onwards to close on 106 for 2. Suyash Sharma was named Player of the Match for his bowling. The result moves RCB to four wins from their last five meetings with Punjab Kings.
The scale of Punjab Kings' defeat is best understood against the ground's own numbers. Mullanpur's average first-innings score across 14 IPL matches is 175. PBKS posted 101, a shortfall of 74 runs. Once the top order went inside the powerplay, the lower order had no foundation to build from, and RCB's bowlers were clinical enough to ensure no recovery.
Venue and conditions
Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh is a relatively modern venue with 14 IPL matches on record. The average first-innings score of 175 and the average second-innings score of 165 suggest a ground where batting is generally rewarded, making Punjab Kings' 101 all the more stark. Powerplay scoring has typically been brisk, with an average of 56 runs in the first six overs across matches here.
Teams have opted to field after winning the toss 71% of the time at this ground, and the chasing side has won 50% of matches, meaning neither approach carries an overwhelming historical advantage. In this match, RCB's decision to insert Punjab Kings looked well-judged as conditions favoured the bowlers early, with the home side losing those 4 powerplay wickets before the pitch could settle into its more familiar batting-friendly behaviour. There are no death-overs runs recorded in either innings, suggesting the game was settled comfortably before that phase was reached.
How to watch
IPL 2025 matches are broadcast in the United Kingdom on Sky Sports Cricket. Subscribers can stream coverage through Sky Go, and a NOW TV day or month pass provides access without a full Sky subscription. Kick-off times vary by fixture but are generally scheduled for early afternoon or early evening BST, so it is worth checking the Sky Sports listings to confirm your local time before each match.
Highlights and short-form clips are also available through the official IPL app and the JioCinema platform, though live streaming rights in the UK remain with Sky. For those who prefer radio, commentary is not typically available for IPL fixtures on BBC channels, so Sky remains the primary option for UK audiences.
Recent form
Punjab Kings arrived at this match with a mixed record, winning three and losing one of their previous four completed fixtures in IPL 2025, with one no-result against Delhi Capitals. That run included wins over Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, and Lucknow Super Giants. The collapse here was therefore something of an outlier in terms of batting output, even if it was consistent with a side that has shown vulnerability when wickets fall in clusters.
Royal Challengers Bangalore came in on stronger recent form, winning four of their last five completed matches. Their only defeat in that run came against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Victories over Lucknow Super Giants, Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, and Rajasthan Royals gave them momentum, and a powerplay of 61 for 1 in the chase here showed a settled and confident batting unit. RCB's next fixtures will determine whether this form carries them further up the IPL 2025 standings.
