Phil Salt Blasts Fastest IPL Fifty As RCB Storm Into 2025 Final With Crushing Win Over PBKS

Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Punjab Kings by 8 wickets and stormed into the finals of the Indian Premier League 2025.

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In a dramatic turn of events during the IPL 2025 Qualifier 1, the Punjab Kings (PBKS) suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). 
Phil Salt delivered a fiery unbeaten 56 off just 27 balls, his fastest half-century in the Indian Premier League, to power Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to a dominant eight-wicket win over Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Qualifier 1 of IPL 2025. The match, held at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium on Thursday, saw RCB breeze into the finals with 10 overs to spare.

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Through grit, grind, and some glorious cricket, we're into the big one! pic.twitter.com/HkidnNOJIY

— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) May 29, 2025

Earlier, RCB’s bowling unit dismantled a star-studded PBKS batting lineup, skittling them out for a mere 101 in 14.1 overs. Suyash Sharma and Josh Hazlewood both starred with three wickets apiece, applying relentless pressure right from the start.

Chasing a modest target of 102, RCB opened aggressively. Virat Kohli looked sharp early on with boundaries off Arshdeep Singh and Kyle Jamieson but was dismissed for a low score in the fourth over, edging a back-of-a-length delivery from Jamieson. Mayank Agarwal faced a testing spell with the ball moving around, surviving a review scare before settling in.

Salt took charge from the other end, counter-attacking with crisp strokes and aggressive intent. He cracked fours and sixes off Arshdeep, Omarzai, and Jamieson, leading RCB to 61/1 at the end of the powerplay. His 23-ball fifty was highlighted by clean hitting and fearless stroke-play, including a towering six off Harpreet Brar and a flurry of boundaries through the covers and midwicket.

Though Agarwal departed after a 54-run stand, Salt continued to dominate, and captain Rajat Patidar joined him to finish the job. Patidar sealed the win with a powerful slog-sweep, wrapping up the chase at 106/2 in just 10 overs.

With this emphatic win, RCB have booked their place in their fourth IPL final, set for June 3 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. PBKS, meanwhile, will get another opportunity to reach the final when they play Qualifier 2 against the Eliminator winner at the same venue on Sunday.