IPL 2025 Dispatch May 30: RCB March To Final, Hazlewood Climbs Purple Cap Chart, PM Meets Vaibhav Suryavanshi

As the IPL 2025 enters its final stretch, Royal Challengers Bengaluru booked their place in the grand finale with a dominant win over Punjab Kings. From Josh Hazlewood’s return to form to Suyash Sharma’s spin masterclass, RCB ticked every box.

Meanwhile, the Orange and Purple Cap races are heating up with only three matches left. Off the field, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with 14-year-old IPL prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi made headlines.

Here's your daily IPL round-up:

RCB Storm Into Final After Dismantling PBKS

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) produced a near-flawless display to crush Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Qualifier 1 and seal their spot in the IPL final for the first time since 2016.

On a bouncy New Chandigarh surface, RCB’s pacers hunted in a pack, reducing PBKS to 59/5 before Suyash Sharma’s triple-strike wiped out the rest. Chasing just 102, Phil Salt’s blistering 23-ball fifty ensured RCB completed the chase in just 10 overs, storming into the summit clash with renewed belief in their balanced unit.

Josh Hazlewood Back Among Purple Cap Contenders

RCB speedster Josh Hazlewood returned from injury in some style, rattling PBKS’s top order with a fiery spell of 3/22 that propelled him to third on the Purple Cap standings. With 21 wickets in 11 games, he now trails only CSK's Noor Ahmad (24 wickets) and GT’s Prasidh Krishna (23).

Mumbai’s Trent Boult (19) sits fourth and will be in action during Friday’s Eliminator, setting up a three-way battle for the Purple Cap in the business end of the tournament.

Orange Cap Race Still Tight at the Top

Virat Kohli managed only 12 runs in the Qualifier, taking his tally to 614 runs in 14 games and retaining fifth spot in the Orange Cap table. Gujarat Titans' B Sai Sudharsan (679) leads the race ahead of teammates Shubman Gill (649) and MI’s Suryakumar Yadav (640).

With all three set to feature in the Eliminator, the race for the Orange Cap is far from settled. Lucknow’s Mitchell Marsh, who finished his season with 627 runs, sits at No. 4.

Suyash Sharma Spins Magic With Best IPL Figures

Legspinner Suyash Sharma delivered a career-best performance of 3/17 to wreck PBKS’s middle order, using his googlies to deadly effect. He dismissed Shashank Singh, Musheer Khan, and Marcus Stoinis in a lethal spell that underlined his growing confidence.

“The coaches just tell me to hit the stumps – googly, legbreak, or flipper,” Suyash said post-match. His clarity and composure helped RCB tighten the noose and showcased the value of wrist spin on a lively surface.

Phil Salt Fires Fastest Fifty To Seal Final Berth

On a pitch where batting looked challenging, Phil Salt made a mockery of the chase with his fastest IPL half-century – a 23-ball blitz that smashed PBKS’s hopes.

Despite a wicket-maiden from Kyle Jamieson, Salt’s powerplay assault (61 runs in six overs) took RCB past the finish line with 10 overs to spare. His approach epitomized RCB’s new fearlessness under Patidar and gave the side a major boost going into the final.

PM Modi Meets Young IPL Star Vaibhav Suryavanshi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met 14-year-old Rajasthan Royals sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi at Patna Airport on Thursday. Returning home after RR’s exit, the teenage prodigy was lauded by the PM, who called him a "cricketing sensation" and shared a photo of the meeting on social media.

Suryavanshi’s breakthrough IPL campaign has inspired millions, and his meeting with the Prime Minister only underscores his growing stature in Indian cricket.