IPL 2026: 6 losses after 6 wins for Punjab, RCB in playoffs

Dharamsala: Royal Challengers Bengaluru defeated Punjab Kings by 23 runs with fluent half-centuries from Virat Kohli and Venkatesh Iyer along with a decisive opening spell from the pacey Bhuvneshwar Kumar and secured qualification for the play-offs on Sunday.

After picking up six wins in the first seven matches (the KKR matches were canceled due to rain), Punjab have now succumbed to their sixth defeat in as many matches and face an elimination.

Kohli (58 off 37 balls), Iyer (73 not out from 40 balls) and Devdutt Padikkal (45) produced impressive innings in which RCB amassed 222 for 4 in 20 overs.

Bhuvneshwar (2/38) then removed Punjab Kings’ dangerous opening pair Priyansh Arya (0) and Prabhsimran Singh (2) early but shut the door on the opposition and eventually managed 199 for 8 in their allotted 20 overs.

Pacer Rasikh Salam (3/36) further added to Punjab Kings’ misery by dismissing skipper Shreyas Iyer (1) in the fourth over as the home team fell to 19 for 3.

Later, Punjab captain Shreyas Iyer admitted that his team lost in the power play. “Obviously they got off to a great start and started overpowering the bowlers right after the powerplay. I think it was a commendable performance to get to 222 and we didn’t get that many wickets in the bowling, but yeah, I think the match was lost in the powerplay,” Shreyas said after the match.