Punjab Kings’ captain Shikhar Dhawan led the charge with a gritty 45 off 37 deliveries, laying the foundation for their competitive total of 176 for six against Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. The pitch provided ample bounce, aiding the RCB bowlers initially.
Dhawan’s innings was characterized by his ability to capitalize on loose deliveries, including a lofted six over long-on off Mayank Dagar. He formed a crucial partnership with Prabhsimran Singh (25 off 17), who showcased his aggressive instincts with a flicked six over mid-wicket off Cameron Green.
However, the RCB bowlers, particularly Yash Dayal (1/23), kept the Punjab batsmen in check with accurate deliveries. Prabhsimran’s dismissal, caught by Anuj Rawat off Glenn Maxwell, and Dhawan’s subsequent departure, caught by Virat Kohli off Maxwell, left Punjab at 98 for four in the 12th over.
Jitesh Sharma (27 off 20) provided a much-needed boost with two sixes off Dagar, while Sam Curran (34 off 23) added valuable runs in a 52-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Shashank Singh’s late cameo, including a 20-run over off Alzarri Joseph, helped Punjab reach a respectable total.
Despite the solid batting performance, Punjab would have preferred a higher score to challenge the formidable RCB batting lineup.
