Overview
- Bengaluru’s victory Sunday in Dharamsala made them the first side to clinch a playoff berth after posting 222/4, with Virat Kohli scoring 58 and Venkatesh Iyer unbeaten on 73, before limiting Punjab to 199/8.
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar removed both openers inside three overs and Rasikh Salam Dar closed with 3 for 36, outlasting Punjab counterpunches from Shashank Singh’s 56 and Marcus Stoinis’ 37.
- Punjab sit on 13 points from 13 matches and now need to beat Lucknow Super Giants, then hope rival results and net run rate leave no more than three other teams at 15 points or better.
- Delhi Capitals later beat Rajasthan Royals to keep their own bid alive, and on Monday Sunrisers Hyderabad qualified with a win over Chennai Super Kings that also confirmed Gujarat Titans in the top four.
- On a pace-and-bounce friendly Dharamsala pitch, Punjab chose to field first, while RCB were without regular captain Rajat Patidar as Jitesh Sharma led the side.