RCB vs PBKS, 34th Match at Bengaluru, IPL, Apr 18 2025 - Ball by Ball Commentary

12.40am Right then, that does it. These two teams will meet in very short time in New Chandigarh. Tomorrow (or today, I suppose) there is a double-header so join us for that. On behalf of Himanshu, Sudeep and everyone else at ESPNcricinfo, thank you for joining us, and good night.

Tim David does win the Player of the Match! "It didn't feel so easy. [On playing off the back foot] I had a chance to see what the pitch is doing so I could adapt. [On facing more deliveries] Look our coaching staff has built a squad for a certain reason, we've got batters for different reasons. I am happy I can contribute, but whatever the coaching staff asks, I am happy to do. I am happy I got to face more balls today but I won't be asking any questions about my positions. We had to try and get some partnerships. Tonight was difficult. We had to manage risk a little bit. I feel happy with how I played but I'd feel better having a drink after a nice win. I think it's been tough because we've faced different conditions each time. Tonight it was under the covers. We haven't had a grasp and played well on our home ground, that's undeniable."

Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer: "Variety is the spice of life and we are here to experience all kinds of games here, it's a great challenge. [On his captaincy decisions] There was no thinking to be honest, I was just taking instinctive moves. I just didn't want new batters to come in and settle in. Jansen was getting a lot of bounce, and he was bowling lethal. To be honest we didn't know how the wicket was going to feel but the bowlers adapted to it. I had a chat with Arshdeep and he said the hard length balls were hard to hit. That was the chatter in the middle and they executed brilliantly. [On Wadhera] His approach was wonderful today. [On Chahal] I personally had a chat with him and told him that you are match winner and you need to get us as many wickets as possible and you don't need to be safe. He has a capability of bouncing back and he is one of the best bowlers in the IPL."

12.28am Thanks Himanshu. the presentation ceremony should get underway soon.

Yash: "Should be either Chahal for his important wickets and economic spell or Wadhera for being ice cool and finishing the chase in difficult conditions !"

Lakshay: "Chahal should be the MoM. He took out Rajat just when he was looking to go big and didn't let Jitesh get off. More so gave only 11 Runs." I'd like to give it to Tim David, if it were up to me. Did incredibly well in incredibly difficult circumstances and then took two catches. But I guess it will go to someone from the winning team.

Abhimanyu will bring you the final presentation formalities. Let him know who you think will be the Player of the Match tonight.

Marco Jansen: "Feel very good. There was a bit of pace and bounce, which all fast bowlers enjoy. Everyone has a role to play, and for me, whatever I need to do, I try and do that to the best of my ability. Iyer is very clear on the field. We have good chats at training, and it makes a lot easier for us. I would call the catch a fall, and not a dive! It's nice as a seam bowler knowing that someone's going to take wickets in the middle."

Rajat Patidar: "Initially it was sticking, and was two-paced. But I think we could have done far better as a batting unit. Partnerships are important in batting. We have been losing wickets in intervals. We left Padikkal out due to the conditions. Wicket was not that bad. It was under cover for a long time. It helped Punjab, and the way they bowled, credit goes to them. The bowling unit is doing pretty well. We have confidence on our bowling unit. Sometimes it clicks [the batting], sometimes it doesn't. We'll look at the batting unit first."

12.13am At 53 for 4 after eight overs, you would have thought RCB could surprise PBKS. Hazlewood was on a roll, but young Wadhera targetted Suyash at the other end, and went 4, 6. He repeated the heroics with another round of 6, 4 from 65 for 4. Those four hits pretty much defined the chase. Wadhera ended with 33* off 19 balls - 30 of those runs came in boundaries - and quickly blew any possible nerves from the PBKS dressing room away. Eventually, 95 turned out to be pretty short in a 14-over game, and RCB will look back and say their batters could have been much better.

PBKS one hit away now, and here comes Dayal

Some RCB fans have started to leave...

Stoinis

Bhuvi back. Any miracle in store for RCB?

Around the wicket

Suyash to continue

Sriram: "Four fantastic balls, and just two balls it took to make that over forgettable"

Shashank facing his first ball

Can Hazlewood find some magic again?

Harry: "We are in for another blockbuster finish tonight"