Picture : @IPL/X
Defending Champions Royals Challengers Bengaluru became the first team to qualify for the play- offs of the Tata IPL 2026 as they beat beat Punjab Kings by 23 runs in Dharamsala. For Punjab it was their sixth straight loss and thus makes their play-offs chances all the more tough.
The 𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 is ON! 🏆
Reigning champions @RCBTweets become the 1⃣st team to enter the #TATAIPL 2026 Playoffs 😎 ❤️
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/3u5qL0Zn75#KhelBindaas | #PBKSvRCB pic.twitter.com/1XAjPzeHnV
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 17, 2026
Earlier Punjab Kings won the toss and opted to bowl first. RCB lost struggling opener Jacob Bethell early for 11 . ‘Chase master’ Virat Kohli anchored the innings yet again with fine 58 ( 37 balls , 3 fours, 4 sixes) and well backed up Devdutt Padikkal 45 ( 25 balls , 4 fours, 3 sixes).
Promoted up the batting order Venkatesh Iyer struck his first fifty for his new franchise and remained unbeaten with 73 ( 40 balls , 8 fours, 4 sixes). Tim David balsted 28 ( 12 balls 2 fours, 2 sixes) as RCB posted 222/4 in their 20 overs. Jitesh Sharma led the RCB in the absence of Rajat Patidar
Punjab Kings Bowling : Arshdeep Singh 1/43 ( 4 overs), Azmatullah Omarzai 0/38 ( 4 overs), Harpreet Brar 2/35 ( 4 overs), Lockie Ferguson 0/43 ( 3 overs) struggled with line and length , Yuzvendra Chahal 1/42 ( 3 overs), Shashank Singh 0/20 ( 2 overs)
In reply , Punjab Kings were rocked early in the must win game for them. In- form openers Priyansh Arya 0, Prabhsimran Singh 2 flopped in the big game . Cooper Connolly got going could not carry on 37 ( 22 balls 3 fours, 3 sixes), Skipper Shreyas Iyer cheaply for 1 . The chase was wobbling . Suryansh Shedge 35 ( 22 balls 2 fours 2 , 2 sixes), Marcus Stoinis 37 ( 2 5 balls , 5 fours) . After series of poor scores Shashank Singh scored a fifty 56 ( 27 balls , 4 fours, 4 sixes), Azmatullah Omarzai 14 , Harpreet Brar not out 14. Punjab could make 198/8 in their 20 overs.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Bowling : Bhuvneshwar Kumar 2/38 ( 4 overs), Josh Hazlewood 1/36 ( 4 overs), Rasikh Salam Dar 3 /36 ( 4 overs), Suyash Sharma 1/50 ( 4 overs), Romario Shepherd 1/8 ( 1 over), Krunal Pandya 0/27 ( 3 overs)
Match: IPL 2026, 61st Match
Venue: Dharamsala | Date: May 17, 202
