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 Hazlewood바카라s return to form to Suyash Sharma바카라s 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 Modi바카라s meeting with 14-year-old IPL prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi made headlines.
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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, RCB바카라s pacers hunted in a pack, reducing PBKS to 59/5 before Suyash Sharma바카라s triple-strike wiped out the rest. Chasing just 102, Phil Salt바카라s 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 PBKS바카라s 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 GT바카라s Prasidh Krishna (23).
Mumbai바카라s Trent Boult (19) sits fourth and will be in action during Friday바카라s 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 MI바카라s Suryakumar Yadav (640).
With all three set to feature in the Eliminator, the race for the Orange Cap is far from settled. Lucknow바카라s 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 PBKS바카라s 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.
바카라The coaches just tell me to hit the stumps 바카라 googly, legbreak, or flipper,바카라 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 바카라 a 23-ball blitz that smashed PBKS바카라s hopes.
Despite a wicket-maiden from Kyle Jamieson, Salt바카라s powerplay assault (61 runs in six overs) took RCB past the finish line with 10 overs to spare. His approach epitomized RCB바카라s 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 RR바카라s 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.
Suryavanshi바카라s breakthrough IPL campaign has inspired millions, and his meeting with the Prime Minister only underscores his growing stature in Indian cricket.
