Crimson-hot Royal Challengers Bengaluru attain first IPL last since … | Cricket Information – Instances of India

NEW DELHI: Phil Salt was in a rush, and so had been Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), as they stormed into the IPL 2025 last with a thumping eight-wicket win over Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Qualifier 1 on the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Worldwide Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur on Thursday.After Suyash Sharma (3/17) and Josh Hazlewood (3/21) mixed to dismantle PBKS for a paltry 101 in simply 14.1 overs, Salt launched a fiery assault through the chase. The England opener introduced up his fifty in simply 23 balls — his quickest within the IPL — and remained unbeaten on 56 off 27 balls, hammering 7 fours and a pair of sixes.

His blitz powered RCB to the goal in precisely 10 overs, with a staggering 60 balls to spare — the largest margin of victory (by balls remaining) whereas chasing in IPL playoffs/knockout historical past, surpassing KKR’s 57-ball win over SRH within the IPL 2024 last.RCB, who had beforehand made the finals in 2009, 2011, and 2016, have now entered their fourth IPL last, scheduled to be performed on the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on June 3.For PBKS, this was their first playoff look since 2014. Nonetheless, all isn’t misplaced for them but — they are going to get one other shot at reaching the summit conflict once they face the winner of the Eliminator in Qualifier 2 on the identical venue on June 1.Salt’s whirlwind knock additionally earned RCB a spot among the many quickest 100+ run chases in IPL historical past:9.4 overs – RCB vs KKR, Bengaluru, 2015 (rain-shortened)9.4 overs – SRH vs LSG, Hyderabad, 2024 (Goal: 166)10.0 overs – RCB vs PBKS, Mullanpur, 2025 (Goal: 102)10.1 overs – KKR vs CSK, Chennai, 2025 (Goal: 104)With historical past on their facet — 11 of the final 14 Qualifier 1 winners have gone on to carry the trophy, together with every of the final seven seasons — RCB now have their sights firmly set on a long-awaited maiden IPL title.