Punjab Kings’ impressive run in IPL 2025 came to a halt on Sunday at the Maharaja Y.P. Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh, suffering a 7-wicket defeat to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Under the captaincy of Shreyas Iyer, Punjab Kings posted 157 runs for 6 wickets after batting first, following a lost toss. Although Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh started well, the middle order faltered, failing to capitalize on a solid start. RCB successfully chased down the target with 7 balls remaining, propelled by an outstanding unbeaten 73 from Virat Kohli.
Post-match, head coach Ricky Ponting criticized the batting performance, stating, “We did not perform well… Many batsmen got starts but failed to convert.” He highlighted the need for the team to improve and noted that every match from now on is crucial, emphasizing the upcoming clashes as “do-or-die situations.”
Looking ahead, Ponting expressed optimism about their upcoming matches, particularly in Dharamshala, noting its favorable conditions. The team is set to face Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens on April 26, followed by a home game against Lucknow Super Giants in Dharamshala on May 4.
