Royal Challengers Bengaluru defeated Punjab Kings by 23 runs in their 13th match of the IPL 2026. With their 9th win and 18 points, RCB became the first franchise to qualify for the playoffs. The defending champions have been on a roll, and barring a few defeats, the players are giving their best in every match. They restricted Punjab to 199 for 8 in a 223-run chase at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala.

The failure of Priyansh Arya (0), Prabhsimran Singh (2) and Shreyas Iyer (1) ended the Kings’ chances in the fourth over. After winning six matches in the first half, the Punjab Kings lost six successive games in the second half of the 19th season. They are almost out of contention for the knockout stage, considering their points and form. They have secured 13 points from as many matches, and winning their last contest will take their overall tally to 15.

Meanwhile, Cooper Connolly (37 off 22), Suryansh Shedge (35 off 22) and Marcus Stoinis (37 off 25) tried their best, but their efforts were not enough.

Shashank Singh played the best innings for Punjab, amassing 56 runs in 27 balls, laced with 4 boundaries and 4 maximums, but the asking run rate was beyond his reach.

Rasikh Salam was the pick of the bowlers for RCB, taking three wickets for 36 runs. Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled well and claimed two scalps.

Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma and Romario Shepherd dismissed one batter each.

Earlier, RCB batters were again clinical. Virat Kohli was among the runs and took his run tally to 542, the third highest in IPL 2026.

He added 37-ball 58 to the total, including 4 boundaries and 3 maximums. Devdutt Padikkal was in full flow, accumulating 45 in 25 deliveries, packed with 4 fours and 3 sixes.

The real surprise for Punjab came in the form of Venkatesh Iyer, who was included in the starting XI after regular skipper Rajat Patidar was ruled out due to an injury. Former KKR star scored an unbeaten 73 runs in 40 balls and smashed 8 fours and 4 sixes. Tim David was unstoppable from the other end, taking just 12 balls for his 28 runs.

The Aussie player hit 2 fours and as many sixes to take the total to 222 for 4.

Harpreet Brar got rid of two batters while Arshdeep Singh and Yuzvendra Chahal added one scalp each to their bowling figures.