RCB beat PBKS by 23 runs in match 61 of IPL 2026
RCB become the first team to qualify for playoffs of IPL 2026
Venkatesh Iyer was adjudged 'Player of the Match'
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) routed Punjab Kings (PBKS) by 23 runs at the picturesque HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala in match 61 of the Indian Premier League on Sunday, May 17.
With this victory, RCB becomes the first team to qualify for the playoffs with 18 points from 13 games. On the other hand, PBKS face their sixth consecutive loss of the season, which has made their playoff chances bleak.
After being invited to bat first, RCB lost the wicket of Jacob Bethell early but Virat Kohli continues on his merry ways and forged a 76-run stand with Devdutt Paddikal. Kohli brought up his fifty in just 31 balls and blazed four boundaries and three sixes before getting out at 58 off 37 balls. He has the most number of half-centuries in IPL followed by David Warner (57).
RCB eventually managed to put on a mammoth 222 runs on board with Venkatesh Iyer (73*) and Tim David (28*) playing crucial knocks towards the end.
In reply to a big chase, PBKS got off to a horrendous start and lose top three of four batters within four overs. Cooper Connolly and Suryansh Shedge stitched a quick 43-run stand to stabilize PBKS' chase but weren't able to convert their starts into something meaningful.
Shashank Singh tried to put up a fight by smashing 56 runs off 27 balls but it turned out to be too little too late. This was PBKS' sixth straight loss, and with it their playoff chances took a major dent as they can now reach a maximum of 15 points.
IPL 2026 Updates Points Table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | NR | Pts | NRR |
| 1 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 13 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 18 | 1.065 |
| 2 | Gujarat Titans | 13 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 16 | 0.4 |
| 3 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 12 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 14 | 0.331 |
| 4 | Punjab Kings | 13 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 13 | 0.227 |
| 5 | Rajasthan Royals | 11 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 12 | 0.082 |
| 6 | Chennai Super Kings | 12 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 12 | 0.027 |
| 7 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 12 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 11 | -0.038 |
| 8 | Delhi Capitals | 12 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 10 | -0.993 |
| 9 | Mumbai Indians | 12 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 8 | -0.504 |
| 10 | Lucknow Super Giants | 12 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 8 | -0.701 |
PBKS Vs RCB, IPL 2026: Toss Update
Punjab Kings have won the toss and elected to field first against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
PBKS Vs RCB, IPL 2026: Playing XIs
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Jacob Bethell, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Venkatesh Iyer, Jitesh Sharma(w/c), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma
Punjab Kings: Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh(w), Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer(c), Suryansh Shedge, Shashank Singh, Azmatullah Omarzai, Harpreet Brar, Lockie Ferguson, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal
