Red-hot Royal Challengers Bengaluru reach first IPL final since … | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Phil Salt was in a rush, and so have been Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), as they stormed into the IPL 2025 final with a thumping eight-wicket win over Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Qualifier 1 on the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International 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 throughout 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 couple of sixes.

His blitz powered RCB to the goal in precisely 10 overs, with a staggering 60 balls to spare — the most important 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 final.RCB, who had beforehand made the finals in 2009, 2011, and 2016, have now entered their fourth IPL final, scheduled to be performed on the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on June 3.For PBKS, this was their first playoff look since 2014. However, all isn’t misplaced for them but — they may get one other shot at reaching the summit conflict after 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 (Target: 166)10.0 overs – RCB vs PBKS, Mullanpur, 2025 (Target: 102)10.1 overs – KKR vs CSK, Chennai, 2025 (Target: 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 an extended-awaited maiden IPL title.