Kohli's 73 Guides RCB to 7-Wicket Victory Over Punjab

Royal Challengers Bengaluru secured a seven-wicket victory over Punjab Kings, successfully chasing 158 with Virat Kohli anchoring the innings with an unbeaten 73 and Devdutt Padikkal contributing a dynamic 61. The duo's 103-run partnership set the foundation after the early loss of opener Phil Salt, helping RCB avenge their recent home defeat to Punjab. RCB's bowlers, particularly spinners Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma, played a key role in restricting Punjab to 157-6 by breaking crucial partnerships and maintaining pressure through the middle overs. Kohli's knock marked his 67th IPL score of 50 or more, surpassing David Warner for the most 50-plus scores in tournament history. The win propelled Bengaluru into third place on the points table, highlighting their strong away record this season, while Punjab slipped to fourth. Both teams now find themselves in a tight contest among the league's top five, all tied on points.